The decision to cast Angelina Jolie as Cleopatra has angered some in the
African-American community. (Photos/Warners Bros, AP File)
The news that Angelina Jolie has been hired to play Cleopatra in an upcoming biopic has some in the African-American community fuming that Jolie is "too white" to play the famous Egyptian pharaoh.
'WHY NOT A BLACK ACTRESS?'
A recent Essence.com commentary entitled Another White Actress to Play Cleopatra? insists:
"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."
(Editor's note: Jolie, 35, and partner Brad Pitt, 46, adopted Zahara, 5, from Ethiopia, and gave birth to Shiloh, 3, in Namibia.
Angelina and Brad also adopted Maddox, 8, from Cambodia and Pax, 6, from Vietnam. Angie and Brad also have their own biological children, twins Knox and Vivienne, 23 months old.)
Another blogger wrote:
I don’t dispute Jolie’s dramatic skill but really, enough of this! This is Hollywood’s third time casting a White woman to play Cleopatra–in 1934, actress Claudette Colbert, in 1945, actress Vivien Leigh, and the latest, Elizabeth Taylor in a 1963 version.
HISTORIANS CLAIM CLEOPATRA WAS 'SHORT, FAT & HOMELY'
A better question might be whether the gorgeous, slim 5'7" Angelina is too beautiful and skinny to play Cleopatra, since historians who studied relics from her reign suggest she was "short, fat and homely." Coins also indicate she had a pointy chin, thin lips and a hooked nose -- a far cry physically from Jolie.
In addition, Egyptologists maintain that Cleopatra was a descendant of aristocratic Greeks and didn't have any African lineage at all.
Meanwhile, Stacy Schiff, who wrote the book, Cleopatra: A Life (on which the film will be based), has stated that Angelina was her top choice.
"I think [Jolie] be perfect for it and I can see a possible Oscar in her future,” Schiff said. "Physically, she’s got the perfect look."
Short or tall, fat or thin, dark-skinned or fair, Cleopatra was definitely a seductive and intriguing woman. And so, fans claim, is Jolie. [see slideshow below]
Angelina next appears as a spy in the thriller Salt, which opens July 23.
- Angelina Jolie: My diet secret is red meat; Vegan diet almost killed me
- Angelina Jolie rocks Tokyo Salt premiere in stunning thigh-high dress (photos)
- Angelina Jolie: Staying healthy and aging gracefully is really important to me
- 'The stuff Angelina Jolie can do physically is remarkable,' says co-star Liev Schreiber
- Super-skinny Angelina Jolie ate a high-carb, low-protein diet for Salt, says trainer
- Salt director Phillip Noyce: 'Angelina Jolie trains so hard for stunt scenes'
- Angelina Jolie: How I avoided the pitfalls of fame and fortune
- Angelina Jolie: My happy home life has curbed my self-destructive behavior
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- Angelina Jolie is an action star who transcends gender, say film execs
Comments
Don't these people know that Cleopatra VII was from the Ptolemaic dynasty, a royal family of GREEK origin? Why in the world would Hollywood cast a person of African ethnicity to play a Greek woman?
You mean why would you cast and Egyptian(African) woman to play an Egyptian(African Princess).....who knows, lol
Exactly. Why anyone would want an affirmative action Cleopatra is beyond me. Facts are facts and she was Greek.
I'd rather they hired Melina Kanakaredes to play Cleopatra.
I agree...the Nerubians (blacks) only ruled Egypt for 8 years and it wasn't during Cleopatra's Dynasty. Also If they cast anyone who is healthier in size, shorter, and has a Mediterranean look, they should cast Kim Kardashian.
American blacks are idiots. Cleopatra was white. Do you think the Greek Ptolemy dynasty would let a black rule Egypt. They were a conquered race by Alexander the Great, who was a white Greek.
Right, Cleopatra was half Greek, half Egyptian. Look at pictures of King Tut, he did not have classically African features. Not to mention, do Black Americans have a say in how an EGYPTIAN-GREEK princess should be portrayed anyway??
Excuse me, but Halle Berry's character in Monster's Ball (for which she won an Oscar) was originally written for a WHITE woman but they cast Halle after she rallied for it. And she did great. So Angelina being white should not matter.
Who wants to see a movie about Cleopatra...I smell FLOP!!!
Yes Cleopatra was from the Ptolemaic dynasty, which was entirely Greek. They intermarried with other family members just as the other dynasty's did. She would not have had a drop of African blood in her. Can't these people check their facts??
In response to History Buff... Who are "These" people? That sounds like a classic racist remark... Besides whether the person be African American or European American... Who are these people? If anything, Cleopatra should be played by an "Ethnic" person of Greek or similar Ethnic look... As for the other person who commented about Halle's role she played the role of a pathetic woman! Whether that ccharacter was white or Black or purple the role was horrible and degrading!
Egypt is in Africa, duh! You cant be Egyptian and not African...please educate yourself before making dumb comments.
You can be an Egyptian Queen and not African...when your ancestors are all Greek, like Cleopatra. Cleopatra was Greek by ancestry, and Egyptian by birth. From what is known she did not have a single drop of Egyptian blood in her veins and even her name was of Greek origin. History gives little clues as to what she looked like, but not only was she decended from Macedonian Greeks -- notably fair in complexion, but one of her Ptolemaic ancestors was described as having light hair and fair skin. There is absolutely NO reason that a black-skinned person should be playing Cleopatra.
The other blog who wrote about the women who played Cleopatra forgot Leonor Varela in the 1999 version of Cleopatra
People are so worried about Angelina being right for the part. I have two things. One, I guess none of these people that claim she is "too white" remember that Elizabeth Taylor once played the part, and did a magnificent job as well. Two, so historians say Cleopatra was short and chubby. Every piece of literature and artwork I have read and seen portrays her as otherwise, and I have seen and read a lot of art and literature about her. Also, if you want to get technical, even modern day Egyptians are not black, darker skin, maybe, but not black. And this isn't based in modern day Egypt. Oh, and so far, every ancient Egyptian I have seen has been played by someone of lighter color. (Adam Pascal in Aida, anyone?)
Hollywood tradition says that the role goes to the most beautiful actress in the world at the time. Jolie fits the bill, IMHO. And Cleopatra may well have been the most beautiful ruler in the world at the time, pointed chin and all. Have you ever seen photographs from the 1850s of what were considered "beautiful" women back then? Now project that trend back 2000 years...
Who cares if Jolie isn't black? At the end of the day, the film studio wants a marquee actress who's bankable at the box office. While Jolie has been hit and miss at the box office, she has been in some major hits. Its a good choice,IMHO. I don't know who else can do it better. Halle berry is beautiful but I prefer to watch Jolie. JMO.
Cleopatra was royalty. As a Greek queen living in the desert, she had servants to carry around canopies, awnings, and umbrellas to constantly shield her from the harsh sun. Hence, pearl-white appearance. In 1800s England, a woman with a white complexion was a sign of wealth because it showed she did not have to toil outside for a living.
We will boycott egyptian cotton until Queen Latifa is given the role of Cleopatra !!
No justice no peace !!
Queen Latifah? Get over yourself! That ought to sell about 14 tickets.
Yes indeed. The Egyptian dynasty had zero to do with what we nowadays call the African American community. That would all be sub-saharan Africa, and not the non-black Meditteranean cultures of Arabic based Africa. But, just cast Charleze Theron, since she is technically as African as Cleopatra was. (Born in South Africa) Problem solved.
Cleopatra wasn't black... people need to give up on the racial crap, it makes them sound pathetic.
So it's ok to turn green lantern black and try to turn spider-man black but we can't make a white person portray another white person. wow someone has pretty big balls and someone else needs to get there's back.
How about this; The producers get to pic who they want because they are paying for it. If someone wants and African American Cleopatra, make that version yourself. Why does 'Group A' get to decide how 'Group B' makes a privately funded film?
am egyptian, i aint black and CLEOPATRA WASNT BLACK ! its too few to spot a black person in egypt.
But it was OK of course for Will Smith to play West in Wild Wild West. it was OK for African Americans to dress up in white face in White Chicks... OMG seriously who cares what race plays what but if a race is going to make a stink over this then the race has to look at it's own inappropriate castings.
Firstly, Egyptians arent black. Secondly, Cleopatra wasn't Egyptian, she was Macedonian Greek desceneded from Ptolemy, a bodyguard of Alexander the Great of Macedon.
Cleopatra was from a Greek ancestry! Why is it that when people today say "Africa" they think of a dark skinned person? The southern portions have tended to hold people of dark skinned origin while the Northern portion have always been lighter. There were dark skinned Pharaohs but Cleopatra was not one of them. Didn't she have red hair?? Angelina Jolie is perfect for the part but I do like the idea of Halle Berry for it as well. It would not be a true to history movie if Halle was Cleopatra but its Hollywood... Actually, have Angelina play Cleopatra and then make a movie about Nefertiti and cast Halle as that queen. I would love to see a movie about her!
It's just something new to fuss about.
Yes, Egyptians AREN'T black!! The only people who really have the right to complain about Angelina playing Cleopatra are the Egyptians, not Black Americans. What gives???
If Blacks don't deserve a say in how the movie is cast then why do any of you deserve to have a say in how it shouldn't? Say what you want but the fact remains that whatever race Cleopatra was Caucasian wasn't it? In a day an age where an Asian movie can't be made with a predominantly Asian cast or a movie featuring predominantly Caucasian characters has to include "color", and movie with African-Americans automatically gets lumped into the "urban" niche, if you really don't see what the problem is then you ARE the problem. Do us all a favor and swallow drain cleaner please. Thanks.
I love this comment! Please get in contact with me! Google me: Kyra Climbingbear is my REAL name!
*Yawn*
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.
well they've been doing this to asian people forever (last airbender, last samurai, dragon ball z ect.) damn you hollywood.
@Ih8keyboardracists: Please enroll in a logic course. The first sentence of your post is mind-numbingly idiotic. Also, why would African-Americans who have no money or time invested in a project have a say in anything related to said production? I assume you've read the other posts which indicate (accurately, I might add) Miss Cleo's actual ancestry. Essentially you're saying "to hell with the facts, I just want an African Cleopatra!" Based on that logic, they might as well have just cast Nicolas Cage as Muhammad Ali.
Again: Cleopatra wasn't African American. She was Egyptian and Greek.
I cant say that I am outraged, but, I will say that (hypothetically) if Cleopatra was in America during slavery she would be considered Black. If you look at the pic she looks awfully dark to me. Yet like I said I'm not outraged at it (Its hollywood not the bible), just doesn't make much since even from a business view. Could of made just as much money if not more by casting an equally talented slightly darker skinned person and made everyone happy. I hope Angelina kills it though, Although I cant see her playing Cleopatra, she would def. make a great queen, in a movie of course.
People are so worried about Angelina being right for the part. I have two things. One, I guess none of these people that claim she is "too white" remember that Elizabeth Taylor once played the part, and did a magnificent job as well. Two, so historians say Cleopatra was short and chubby. Every piece of literature and artwork I have read and seen portrays her as otherwise, and I have seen and read a lot of art and literature about her. Also, if you want to get technical, even modern day Egyptians are not black, darker skin, maybe, but not black. And this isn't based in modern day Egypt. Oh, and so far, every ancient Egyptian I have seen has been played by someone of lighter color. (Adam Pascal in Aida, anyone?)
Cleopatra was of Macedonian decent. Specifically one of Alexander's top bodyguards named Ptolemy.
Ok, lets keep everybody happy and have Freida Pinto play Cleo!!You talk about a worldly beauty,and yes I take full credit for this choice.
Frankie has a good idea. Freida Pinto is olive skinned, gorgeous and not too tall. She's perfect! Lets keep the peace.
Couple of things. Some of you all are trying to compare a reimagining of a fictional character to that of changing a real life historical person. It's not the same get over it. Secondly I think that those who have a problem with Angelina would have preferred someone of African desceant. Which would include what I guess a lot you are referring to as Black, but not limit to just that group. You see Africans don't consider themselves as Blacks .
Greek, not African... Journalist these days will write any story to get people angry without reviewing facts...
Does anyone else realize that Jennifer Anniston actually IS greek? I think this is hilarious. First Jolie takes Anniston's man then an appropriate role for her. I mean personally I think Jennifer Anniston is a horrible actress, and Jolie is quite talented. But I will also say any criticism that Angelina Jolie isn't "Black Enough" is both racist and misinformed.
Sigh, Hollywood has been doing this to us for years, and it has gotten out of hand. Scenario, the best script ever is submitted. The writer has specific descriptions of the characters, which are ignored by the producers since 'names' on the billboard sell more tickets to the sheeple. (Sound familiar to our topic aye.) Next, the producers find there are no romantic relationships mentioned for the lead character, so they write them in to get the women in the seats. Next, they put a nanny filter on the language and the fight choreography so the kids can come to. The best script in the world is now schlock! This is just a slim treatment btw, but y'all get the point.
Judging on the description,,, Snookie should be their top choice LOL
Egypt is a part of Africa.
The people that are commonly pictured today as Egyptians are actually Persians and Greeks.
@cait: LOL, true Snooki would be a good choice except Cleo was actually smart! :) Snooki looks like her brain has been fried for too long in the tanning beds.
They casted a black man as the NORDIC GOD HEIMDALL(Also known as the 'whitest of the aesir') in Thor. I didn't hear any blacks whining about that.
Hypocrites.
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