Is Angelina Jolie too white to play "Cleopatra"?

It was recently announced that Angelina Jolie has been cast to play the title role in Cleopatra. Many of us were pleased, thinking that Jolie made a great fit for the beautiful Queen of the Nile.

Not everyone is satisfied with the selection though. In a recent commentary piece on Essence.com, author Shirea Carroll complains about Jolie's casting. "Gasp, the nerve! "She's got the perfect look?" Honestly, I don't care how full Angelina Jolie's lips are, how many African children she adopts, or how bronzed her skin will become for the film, I firmly believe this role should have gone to a Black woman." Caroll continues, "Were Vanessa Williams, Halle Berry and Thandie Newton unavailable for auditions that day?"

I think the author has somewhat of a valid point in her opinion piece. White-washing is a problem in Hollywood. Just look at the recent Jake Gyllenhaal movie Prince of Persia. Umm, hello...where are the Persians??? However, do any of us really know whether or not Cleopatra was white or black? The author of the Essence post even admits, "there is no concrete confirmation that Cleopatra was of a darker complexion." If that's the case, why complain in the first place? If the Queen of the Nile's skin color can't be proved, why is it so offensive that Angelina Jolie has been cast in the role?

I'm confused. Does the author want Cleopatra to be depicted correctly in a physical sense, or does she just want a black actress to get a job?

Comments: 6

Janet "Jax" B. Jun 17, 2010, 11:44pm UTC

Didn't Liz Taylor play Cleopatra years ago?

Cleopatra was Egyptian, which would make her look more middle eastern than black. Here's some photos of Egyptian actresses I think Angelina Jolie could easily look Egyptian, and she'd do a good job.

Heather - child of God, C. Jun 18, 2010, 9:59am UTC

I agree with you Janet. And yes, Liz Taylor did play Cleopatra in a big movie epic.

If Angelina Jolie was playing Diana Ross in a "Diana Ross and the Supremes" movie about Diana's life, I could see her point. But she is not doing that.

I think Angelina Jolie will do a good job in the roll. Now if it was Michelle Pfieffer they were talking about, yea those other actresses may have been a closer fit... blonde hair and blue eyed, hmmm, uh, no.

But then again, I thought the whole thing was about acting.

People forget though that Hollywood is a business and what sells is where the business goes...and Angelina Jolie is very much in demand just like Liz Taylor was years ago. I think she will have a closer look to Cleopatra than liz did.

Rod Hagwood Jun 19, 2010, 3:04am UTC

Cleo was Greek.

reply to this comment

john runion Jun 19, 2010, 6:34am UTC

where was the outrage when eartha kitt and halle berry played the catwoman? where was the outrage when the honeymooners was remade with a black cast? nick fury originated as a Caucasian in the comic books yet sam jackson plays him in the movies. the character gilbert was also Caucasian, but when the leave it to beaver movie was cast a black actor played the part. two black actors played the title characters in white chicks wearing white face. robert conrad played jim west on the tv series the wild wild west; will smith played the part on film.

reply to this comment

john runion Jun 20, 2010, 11:21pm UTC

where was the out cry over the karate kid remake, kojak 2005, the queen of the damned being white in the book, but played by a black actress on screen, a norse god being portrayed by a black actor? my point is a role that originated with the character being of one race should not be taken away from that race and played by an actor of another race even if the role is the work of fiction. it is wrong when a black actor loses the part of a black character to a white actor and it is wrong when a white actor loses the part of a white character to a black actor.

reply to this comment

Kristen Smith Jun 22, 2010, 6:55pm UTC

So everyone thinks that an Egyptian has green eyes and white skin? Right okay people know your history. Cleo was mixed she was from African decent and Jewish decent. Needless to say that Egypt is in Africa, let me repeat myself, Egypt is in Africa. A lot of sculptures and pyramid noses were cut off because it would show that the rulers were African American. There is so much history that has so much African American, Native American, and other cultures that have been ripped from under the carpet in regards to true history. We are no different from the time period when Orson Welles played Othello and they put black make up because they didn't want to cast an African American male. And another is it is freaking 2010 by now it is about damn time that a woman of color can play a strong and in some ways powerful role. I find it redundant that Ms. Jolie cracked on Disney for not having a positive African American role model but yet she sees herself fit because Cleo was known to be beautiful isn't that calling the kettle black no pun intended. I think Golden brooks, Queen Latifah, or somebody other than Jolie should have been picked and the sad part is no one even had the chance to even read for the role. When I was acting they always tell you you have to have the right look. I quit doing it for the reason anyone can guess why that is? Hint hint.

reply to this comment

Is Angelina Jolie too white to play "Cleopatra"?

1 person recommends this post

Comments: 6

Join the Conversation