Actor David Harewood has sparked controversy by arguing that White actors should be able to play Black characters in Hollywood.
Harewood, who is the new president of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), made the comments in an interview with The Guardian. He said that identity politics should not be a factor in casting decisions and that any actor should be able to play any role, provided they do a good job.
“The name of the game is acting,” Harewood said. “Those who have pushed identity politics and diversity quotas in Hollywood casting in recent years have insisted that actors must match the roles they play in their real-life identities, particularly if the role is part of a minority group.”
Harewood argued that actors of any identity should be able to play characters of any identity in Hollywood or on the stage, provided their performances are good.
“Yes, we’ve got to be representative, but I do think we have to be careful… That even extends to Othello in blackface. I say, if you want to Black up, have at it, man,” he said. “It’d better be f—ing good, or else you’re gonna get laughed off the stage. But knock yourself out! Anybody should be able to do anything,” Harewood added.
The actor has played multiple race-swapped roles throughout his career. He starred as Romeo in a 1988 all-Black stage adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Rome & Juliet” – which he told The Guardian he got “slaughtered” for – and recently starred as White conservative political icon William F. Buckley in the play “Best of Enemies.”
Harewood is also the first person of color to head RADA. He commented on the reception he got upon getting the position, noting some of the hate mail he was sent among the fan mail.
“It was all wonderful and complimentary… except the second to last one that began: ‘The true patriots of England will be turning in their grave at your appointment…’ I didn’t read on, but I could see it was full of the usual,” he said.
Harewood’s comments have been met with mixed reactions. Some people have praised him for speaking out against identity politics in Hollywood, while others have accused him of being insensitive to the issue of racial representation. The debate over identity politics in Hollywood casting is likely to continue, as more and more actors and filmmakers speak out on the issue.
