Thandiwe Newton apologizes to actresses: ‘I’m sorry I’m the one chosen’

nypost.com:

Associated Press.The movie is based on James Lee Burke’s short story, whose protagonist is an older white male.The “Crash” actress spoke about how she had trouble taking the role at first, saying: “I now realize that my internalized prejudices were stopping me from feeling like I could play this role.”She continued, “When it’s precisely that prejudice that I’ve received — doesn’t matter that it’s from African-American women more than anyone else.

It doesn’t matter. I received prejudice. Anyone who’s received prejudice feels this character.”“I’ve wanted so desperately to apologize every day to darker-skinned actresses.

To say, ‘I’m sorry that I’m the one chosen. My mama looks like you,'” the British thespian added.“It’s been very painful to have women that look like my mom feel like I’m not representing them.

That I’m taking from them. Taking their men, taking their work, taking their truth,” Newton noted. Newton’s mom, Nyasha, hails from Zimbabwe and is a princess from the Shona tribe.Newton says that despite her experiences, she hopes she made a difference for women who look like her during the course of her career.