Chiwetel Ejiofor is during the promotional rounds for Triple 9, the cops-and-robbers movie also starring Kate Winslet, Anthony Mackie, Casey Affleck, Aaron Paul, Woody Harrelson and more. I remember that there were a lot of casting rumors going back and forth about this film, and I’m pleased that Chiwetel decided to do it. I’ve wanted good things for his career post-12 Years a Slave, but I think Chiwetel is more focused on diversifying his CV, doing a shoot ‘em action film here, a Marvel film there, a quiet African drama over there, and more. There’s no doubt in my mind that Chiwetel would be a much bigger “star” if he was white. But… I do have my doubts about whether Chiwetel is really interested in being a celebrity or a star. I think he just wants to work, and if he says that he’s living his dream, then I believe him.
Anyway, as Chiwetel was promoting Triple 9, he was asked about Hollywood diversity and all of the hot topics of the day. And Chiwetel said something surprising – he thinks it’s harder to be gay in Hollywood than black in Hollywood.
The industry has been accused of a lack of diversity following the 2016 Academy Awards nominations, where no African-American actor or director was nominated for a top honour for the second year in a row, but the 12 Years a Slave star believes it’s harder for someone to succeed if they’re homosexual than if they’re black.
“I hope this changes (but) I think it’s probably harder to be gay,” he told British newspaper The Times. “I think sexuality is still marginalised in a way that is pretty open. I think it’s tough. I think for one’s own piece of mind, for one’s own sense of self and psychological health, I feel like that’s the horrible thing about ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ and all that f**ked-up s**t, because it produces a sense of shame, and therefore this sense of being ‘less than’, you know? And I hate that. I hate that for anybody.”
But Chiwetel argues that at the same time, a person’s sexuality isn’t anyone else’s business, and if the individual wants to, they should be able to declare their preference without fear of it affecting their opportunities in life in any way.
When it comes to race, the 38-year-old’s Nigerian heritage has never held him back from his dream of being an actor, having received a Best Actor Academy Award nomination for his role in 12 Years a Slave in 2013, and winning a Laurence Olivier Award for his theatre work in the 2008 production of Othello.
“If I hadn’t had the opportunities and the fortune that I have had, of course I would have a very different perspective to that, but I can’t be completely intellectually dishonest about what has happened in my life … It’s a tiny bit more nuanced for me to talk about,” he explained.
Ian McKellen was talking about this too last month – while #OscarsSoWhite, it’s also important to remember that #OscarsSoStraightCisgenderedandHeteronormative too, at least when it comes to “out” actors. No “out and proud” gay actor has ever won an Oscar. Ian McKellen wants to be the first! As for who has it harder, gay folks or black folks… this isn’t a slam against Chiwetel, who was just trying to be an awareness-raising ally, but it’s not a competition, and of course there is intersectionality, because of course there are black, gay actors and gay Hispanic actresses and bisexual Asian actors and they want to be able to work too.
Here are some photos of Chiwetel, Kate Winslet, Anthony Mackie and Aaron Paul at a special screening of Triple 9 last week. Um, seriously, WTF is going on with Winslet’s face these days?
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Yeah, why is intersectionality so hard for people to take as standard?
Right!? And why even compare sexuality and race in the first place? That’s why I got so annoyed at the lgbt community comparing their issues to CR and racism because it opened up the door for others to go “Well why can’t I marry my shoe then?”.
Comparing it to heterosexuality would have been enough but some people always have to go a step further which can backfire.
They compare them because people don’t choose their sexual orientation just like people don’t choose their race or ethnicity.I find it interesting people have no problem comparing religion to race when it comes to discrimination .Particularly because people choose their religion.
Why even compare it to black people and their issues? Doesn’t that say that people think black people have it worse (ignoring intersectionality) than everyone else?
I would never compare religion to race. I just wish people would stop draging black people into the discussion whenever they want to legitimize their agendas.
Yeah, that doesn’t look like Kate Winslet.
That’s what I was thinking. Is that Kate??? If so she really has change. I didn’t realize she was so busty. And it’s harder being black in hollowood than gay. Comeon, 65% of the entertainment business is gay; they may not let us regular folks know but they all know who is and who isn’t.
Chiwetel’s career was good before 12YAS and it will be good afterwards. No need to worry about him. He is one of the few black actors who has always worked, as a lead and as a support in everything, from TV to Theatre to Film from a very young age.
His visibility in American projects may not be as high as an Idris or David Oyelowo, but unlike them, he has never struggled in the same way nor did he need to move to America to jumpstart or maintain his career.
Do you remember him in The Shadow Line, LAK? it got mixed reviews but I loved that series.
Yes I did. Loved it.
Apart from LOVE ACTUALLY, I think my first recollection of him was a tv show called ‘the Canterbury tales’ for the BBC, a modern reimagining of the classic tales. Chiwetel was in the Knight’s tale with John Simm.
YES! I had forgotten that!
He is loved by UK theatre, TV and film, and Hollywood casts him. Like you say, he’ll be fine. Actually, I think he’ll beat Idris to a knighthood. Although I think someone should make Adrian Lester a sir first.
Loved him in the Martian! (That was pretty high visibility film-wise. Why was that left off the list?). Anyway, I love that he’s showing his range. Means more roles in the future.
Since he was cast in ARMISTAD back in 1997, he has never looked back.
Frankly, it’s puzzling that he isn’t Denzel level of fame going by his IMDB page, because most of his projects have been highly visible, did well either commercially or critically, and almost always receive good reviews. And they are varied.
He was very good in the Martian. I was happy when I saw him cast in the role.
I loved him in Serenity, so sinister but without raising his voice an octave
I loved him in Serenity too! He was the perfect bad guy, charming and evil!
Serenity was my first exposure, loved him ever since.
yaaaaas serenity!
Two words: Kinky Boots. How a man built like that could walk around in those boots with those heels is beyond me. He must have abs, amonst other parts, of steel. I’m a female and I sprain an ankle just looking at those things.
My favorite Chewie role.
I adored him in Kinky Boots!! I wanna be evil is my ringtone!! I also thought he was great in Spike Lee’s Inside Man. I really like him & hope the best for him always
More Chiwetel, please!
And I like the way he has built his CV with varied projects. It is always a joy to see him in something.
Agree!! And I’m glad I think he’ll have more of a Paul Giamatti type career than going for a Tom Cruise type career. He’s great and interesting on screen and if he keeps going this way he’ll be around a long time.
That’ll be a much more interesting career, IMO. Doesn’t depend on looking ever youthful or fronting a BO smash every time out.
None of them get intersectionality, do they? Good on him for speaking out against don’t ask don’t tell, but really: it isn’t a hierarchy; it’s a Venn diagram. If I say this often enough, will any of them take it in? Perhaps it’s because acting is such a competitive world, they can’t see things in any other way?
BTW, and as a point of info. British Nigerians are one of the highest performing demographics in the UK education system. As a school governor, I see reams of circulars from the authorities basically saying LOVE YOUR NIGERIANS! THEY’LL MOVE YOU UP THE LEAGUE TABLES! (Not in quite those terms, I’m being satirical, but that’s the subtext). They’re also a high contributing immigrant group in all the professions, the arts, etc ad infinitum.
So it’s not surprising Chiwetel has a slightly different take. Same reason why John Boyega gets a bit snippy when it’s assumed he fought his way through gang culture to “make it”.
Perhaps your choice of forum is hindering the propagation of your message.
Oh, that’s just naysaying! Plus, I do go to other places online, you know. I should be NOTICED! (My middle name is Kanye. Or something.)
@ Sixer
Actually several studies have also shown Nigerian Immigrants are the best performing immigrant group here in the USA as well ( education, occupation etc ) marginally beating out immigrants from other Asian countries, this info rarely gets much media attention IMO because
1) It proves the gap between Black Americans and White Americans is more social the genetic(West Indian immigrants tend to do well also)
2) It does not feed into the whole model minority perception
@Censored, I have a Nigerian father and a black American mother and have known about high-performing Nigerians for a while. Amy Chua, the Tiger Mom, named Nigerians as one of her model minority groups in her second book, and I remember people balking, like, “How could Nigerians be smart/successful? Don’t they just try to scam people over email?” Just the idea that Chua singled them out pissed people off despite the mountain of research showing how successful Nigerians are.
Also, you might be on to something with your genetic theory. Because if intelligence is about genetics, why would the blacks with the most African “blood” perform better than blacks of mixed race, which most black Americans are to some extent?
It’s funny the turn around with in perception of Nigerians in British culture. It used to be the only migrant group from Africa that anyone in Britain could name. Though British people still can’t tell the tribal differences and simply call all of them Nigerians.
I remember for a long time jokes about Nigerians and a not so positive stereotype about them.
Now they are pumping oil money into the British economy at every level of society, everybody only has positive things to say about them.
And now the stereotype has gone the other way ie Nigeria = lots of money, so lots of sucking up to them. To extent that Tatler now covers Nigerian parties!!!!
I’m not surprised John Boyega bristles at being assumed to come from gang culture simply because he is black and he grew up in Peckham.
Peckham is full of migrant African families who are essentially middle class, who are decent law abiding citizens with same aspirations as all other middle-classes. It’s not a crime ridden hell hole despite Harriet Harperson showing up in full body armour and a police escort to inspect the constituency – which is pretty innsulting when your local MP shows up dressed thus.
BTW, of all the London Libraries, Peckhma Library is the best if you are a book reader. The Librarian is a book lover and endeavours to stalk anything and everything in all genres. It’s It’s pleasure to spend time there.
Exactly! And we try to claim all the Nigerian novelists as at least part British!
I wasn’t joking about the educational circulars. It’s cringe level infinity.
Briton’s thought every African migrant was Nigerian. are you for real? I do hope you’ve expanded your social circle as it would seem that you mixed with some serious dimwits.
@ Manjit Can confirm from experience that she is not kidding. Also all South Asians were Pakistani and all East Asians were Chinese. The world is shrinking so hopefully those minds are also growing, but there was a time…
Manjit: if you are going to insult me, at least improve your reading comprehension.
I said that Nigerians were the only African migrant group that Britons could name, NOT that Britons thought all Africans were Nigerian, see the difference?
Sixer: speaking of current riding high African Novellists, may I recommend ‘Americanah’ if you haven’t read it? Infact read everything by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche if you haven’t already. I’ve bored all my friends about her, so now I’m starting on you.
Ps: her writing is so reminiscent of classic authors from the african writers series. It’s awesome.
I understood you, LAK.
I think the general point is that the black story in Britain comes in very different flavours and a lot of it is tied to class. There are posh colonials and not-posh colonials and the former do better than the latter. But clearly, racism affects all black Britons. Eg, as we’ve said, the assumption that Boyega comes from an underclass because he is black, is a racist assumption.
(BTW: using colonial in an ironic way regarding Britain and its harking back to empire and class obsession, not a rudely pejorative way.)
ETA: LAK – I LOVE HER. Read everything by her. Half of a Yellow Sun is my favourite. I’m going to the Bare Lit festival next week. Have you seen it? http://barelitfestival.com/
Sixer sadly no. And by the looks of the dates, I can never attend. Biggest weekend of my industry and all that. Networking calls.
Americanah is my favourite. It articulates that class and race thing very well.
Let’s also not forget that the Social Mobility Foundation has concluded that the three factors most likely to determine a child’s access to the professions are: level of parental education, parental income (whether a child receives free school meals) and whether the child went to a private school. Chiwetel’s parents were a doctor and a pharmacist – so they both had a college education and would have earned well above minimum wage, and he went to Dulwich College, a private school founded in the early 1600s.
I fully accept that this doesn’t level the playing field completely – he could legitimately say that he is less likely to be offered good roles or to win an Oscar than white actors from any background. But let’s also not forget that he speaks from a position of privilege not significantly different from Tom Hiddleston and other posh British actors. In light of this his perspective isn’t that surprising.
That’s probably why he says the following: “If I hadn’t had the opportunities and the fortune that I have had, of course I would have a very different perspective to that, but I can’t be completely intellectually dishonest about what has happened in my life … It’s a tiny bit more nuanced for me to talk about,”
Exactly. Intersectionality again. I’ve made this point about Chiwetel before: he’s posh.
@ Sixer and LAK: I love Chimamanda Adichie’s TED talk on the danger of a single story and try to use it in my classes to get my teenage students to broaden their outlooks.
I have not seen that – and will rectify, so thank you!
@Sixer, @LAK and @brincalhona: so glad to see this discussion here! LOVED “Americanah”, so thanks for the other recommendations. I’ll check out the TED talk later. And, along those lines (immigrant experience in foreign, contemporary culture) you might enjoy “Preparation for the Next Life” by Atticus Lish (story of an illegal Chinese immigrant’s experiences in New York) – different topic, I know.. but couldn’t resist recommending this one, described by critics as “a sledgehammer to the American dream.” Sorry. Off topic, I know.
I love Chiwetl! Last year I had the pleasure to see him on stage. When you look at him all you can see and feel is talent and intelligence. Chiwetl for Bond!
omg! And here I never thought I’d get to share my (uneventful) fan story! So there I am, a saturday afternoon in rainy (always!) London. I am visiting an art gallery because I am so very very cultured and smart like a real person. And whom do I spy across the room? Chewy! Or, as you peasants call him, Chiwetal Ejiofer (!). He is one elegant looking man. Quiet, unassuming, yet with a definite air of intelligence and high-class fanciness. The Cambridge oozed right off him.
After texting everyone I know who I think will care, I continue on with my life.
Then as I’m leaving, because I am a pushy American, I ambush him with the clever I-love-your-work-you-beautiful-bug-eyed-future-oscar-winner. Or something dignified like that. He throws back a heartfelt “Thank you.”
And that was that! #ChewyForever
I think he is too sweet looking for Bond. Idris is perfect, but he is aging out of the role already :'(
James Norton is the new bookies’ favourite for Bond. Sorry ladies!
Stop feeding my addiction!!!!
I’ve let you down. I’ve not watched last night’s Happy Valley yet. Will watch it tonight.
And he is! They’ve all slashed his odds since the last Craig-runs-away rumour.
I adore Chiwetel (#ChewyForever) – but I can’t really picture him as Bond like I can with Idris.
If they go with another blonde, blue-eyed fella, James Norton isn’t a bad choice for Bond. I’ve only seen him in Grantchester, but he had a few hunky moments in that show where I found myself thinking OMG-who-is-that-he’s-hot. I had the same reaction when I saw Daniel Craig for a few seconds in Elizabeth – before he died a horrible grisly death at the hands of Geoffrey Rush.
I like him even more for saying this. It’s understandable that people are usually vocal about their own experiences as a person of a certain race, gender, or sexual orientation. But I love to see people stand up for others who are also marginalized if not moreso. There is a lot of injustice in this world and more people need to realize that they are not the only victims of sexism, racism, ageism, homophobia, etc. I think Chiwetel wasn’t trying to make this into a competition, he’s just stating his opinion. He’s a straight man who is standing up for the rights of gay actors. That is something to be admired. It would be nice to see people stand up for other people of different races, genders, and sexual orientations more often.
This. A hundred times THIS!
Agree^10
+1. I don’t really agree with the it’s probably harder to be gay in Hollywood than it is to be black in Hollywood comment, (both groups have lots of shit thrown at them and this only means it’s even harder if someone is black and gay, or black and a woman) but I completely agree with his comments about the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” mentality and why it’s problematic. People shouldn’t have to deal with the problem of “I’m not from more privileged groups a & b, so I can’t be as ‘open’ as them if I want to be treated the same as them.”
It’s not a frigging contest.
Intersectionality… But good for him for speaking out about the challenges gay ppl face in the industry.
Difference is, one can hide one’s sexuality. Openly gay people have not won and that’s disgraceful. But closeted?….
Anyway, you’re right, GNAT, it’s not a competition and there is intersectionality.
What is also interesting is that Hollywood has a very powerful “gay mafia” behind the scenes, running studios and production companies, etc. They’re definitely making it there, but they are also imposing this self oppression and perpetuating this self
hate by not accepting openly gay actors. Part of the issue I guess is that many have wives and kids and are not themselves living their authentic lives, so maybe they’re refusing to allow others to do so as well.
-TheRealPinky
Wish kate winslet would go away. Sick of seeing her in everything and her her fake humble self.
Abso-freakin-lutely
He’s one of my favorite actors. And I loved him in The Martian, which I don’t think you mentioned.
@Jayna, who wrote: “He’s one of my favorite actors. And I loved him in The Martian, which I don’t think you mentioned.”
Yes! He was one of the best things about “The Martian.” 🙂
Was there supposed to be something going on between him and Kristen Wiig’s character? I got a bit of a vibe.
@MSD, who wrote: “Was there supposed to be something going on between him and Kristen Wiig’s character? I got a bit of a vibe.”
No, and they actually toned Wiig’s character down a bit for the film. In the book she is a foul mouthed, no nonsense woman who often shook her head over the ‘geeks’ she had to endure in order to protect NASA’s public image. 🙂
I’m still working on how Matt Damon got labeled homophobic for saying this:
“In terms of actors, I think you’re a better actor the less people know about you period. And sexuality is a huge part of that. Whether you’re straight or gay, people shouldn’t know anything about your sexuality because that’s one of the mysteries that you should be able to play.”
How did people get from this comment that he was telling gays to stay in the closet?
Damon’s comment wasn’t homophobic but it was clueless about how heteronormative society is. He spoke from a position of heterosexual privilege. The issue isn’t telling people intimate details of your private life, it’s much more prosaic than that. He can freely walk the red carpet with his wife; if he wins an award he can thank her publicly; he can casually mention being married or having children in an interview. All these things are him saying “this is my sexuality, I’m heterosexual” … he just doesn’t notice that; he takes the fact that he can speak and act openly for granted.
If he thinks nobody should know about his sexuality than maybe he shouldn’t discuss his wife and kids in interviews.Maybe he should stop “flaunting his heterosexuality”.That is what gay people are accused of doing,right? Flaunting their homosexuality.
GMAB
Sorry, you meant Matt Damon. Never mind.
As the others have said, Emma.
Only a straight person could not understand that we ALL come out not once but hundreds and thousands of times. Every time we mention, introduce or accompany a spouse or partner, for example. If you are straight this is normal everyday behaviour. It’s just living if you are straight.
To all of you … where in his comment, and it ‘is’ the direct quote he made, does he pass judgement on straights or gays over their sex lives? And how is discussing one’s wife or children flaunting one’s sexuality? Straight people aren’t the only parents in the world. Are you also saying that gays who discuss their spouses and children are “flaunting” being gay?
Matt Damon has always resisted publicity when he wasn’t promoting a film. He has always voiced an opinion that an actor’s private life should remain as much of a mystery as possible, which is why he didn’t live in Los Angeles for so long.
@Emma
I’m not sure how you so thoroughly missed the point everyone was making. Damon’s comment wasn’t overtly hateful and I never saw anyone claim it was. His comment was coming from a place of privilege and hypocrisy though. For a gay actor to avoid having the public know anything about their sexuality, they would have to pretend to be single and childless even if it wasn’t true and they would never have the benefit of walking a red carpet with their spouse or holding their hand in public where they could be seen or papped. That’s no way to live. And it certainly isn’t something Damon has ever done. We all know who his wife is so we all know about his sexuality.
Right, but the point is, everyone knows his sexuality, or at least the sexuality he presents as, because he’s married to a woman and he attends events with her and talks about her. So it’s a bit rich for him to say actors should keep their sexuality private. No he’s never held a press conference announcing that he’s straight, but his everyday behavior announces it for him.
For a gay or bi actor to keep their sexuality private, they can never talk about their relationships, never take their partner to an event, and if their a paparazzi target they can’t even hold hands while walking down the street. That works for some people eg. Kevin Spacey, because no ones really asking anyway and he clearly prefers extreme privacy. But not everyone wants to live a double life, and not every gay celebrity is going to be able to fly under the papparazzi radar.
Umm, no Chewitel, no. Not from my view. There are a lot of openly gay people in prominent, decision making positions in Hollywood. They do not have it worse than black people in Hollywood from what I see. They have a certain struggle, sure, but I see gays have been way more “accepted” in this industry than black actors/writers/directors etc…
I do wish celebs would stop with comparing different groups to see who “has it worse” when the discrimination of any kind should stop on ALL levels.
He was asked about acting and his own experience. I think Hollywood is relatively accepting of people being openly gay behind the camera but it’s a different story when you’re in front. Actors still get advised by studio executives and agents to hide their sexuality.
And I don’t think he was making it a competition, although it will be simplistically reported that way.
Yeah, I got the impression he was talking more about acting than behind-the-scenes.
He seems to admit that he’s been successful and that colours his perspective of the situation. And while I’m sure he’s faced discrimination, he probably hasn’t had to make certain concessions (i.e making sure he’s’ not photographed kissing his female partner or changing mannerisms) that might stifle another actor. Maybe he genuinely feels it’s easier to simply lose a role than to actually alter your outer identity to get a shot at that role.
Really? name some A list openly gay actors.
How many A list actors and actresses are there? Like 5 each?
Colette and the likes are making it a competition where there is none. The fact that WHITE gay actors can hide their sexuality and advance in their careers can be said to be a privilege.
I think this discussion is disturbing because it ignores intersectionality.
@collette
The only one i can think of is Jodie Foster. Truth be told there aren’t a lot of A list black actors either. Only ones who qualify as truly A list is Will Smith and Denzel ( even someone as big as Denzel surprise surprise, evidently the powers that be in HW aren’t convinced can open movies ( as referenced in the Sony Leaks)) Furthermore there are no black women with A list status.
The rest are B or C meaning they can’t open a big studio movie or transcend the label black in their casting, so they will mostly play supporting characters just like the majority of gay actors who aren’t trusted as leading men or women and can’t transcend their label.
Agree about your point about intersectionality @nn
Jody Foster didn’t come out (to the public) until her sexuality as a leading lady didn’t matter. Meaning, she’s already in the age bracket where actresses are overlooked based upon age alone. Further, she now more likely to be found behind the camera than infront of it, which makes her sexuality irrelevant to a movie going public.
She never hid who she was, but she also never articulated it until the Golden Globes ceremony a few years back. In other words she had nothing to lose.
Unless you were following gossip, most of the public didn’t now she wasn’t straight. In the same way that Kirsten Stewart remains closeted to people who don’t read gossip, who think she simply loves spending a lot of time with her flat/housemate (sorry can’t remember her name and can’t be bothered to google it).
The internet has made it harder for actors to hide their sexuality, but it still impacts actors in their prime career years who come out as openly gay.
@Lak
You make a good point about Foster. But lets go back to when she was a big movie star. There was hardly a lot of black A list actors in those days either.
I don’t find Kristen to be a great example she’s is someone who wouldn’t even admit to dating her previous partner, a man. I see her living the same life as she did with Pattison with the exception that her current partner isn’t famous so there isn’t as much interest in them as a couple. That isn’t to say she hasn’t faced struggles in relation to this but I think its a falsity to firmly suggest that POC have less of a struggle.
Even in 2016 where are the black or asian major female movie stars? Lupita was going to be huge when she won that oscar, that hasn’t happen. You can bet people like Brie Larson won’t face the same problems.
I know actors of who happen to be of coulor and i know this isn’t something one speaks about if one wants to get ahead unless ( you can easily get labelled a trouble maker). Its something they speak on privately though. I can’t tell if thats the case here or if Chiwetel just can’t relate because he has had any easier time than most in the industry.
I have to say that by making it into a competition we inadvertently belittle one groups struggle to emphasis another. Its uncomfortable. The struggles are part of the same wider problem and you can also include women in that.
Actually Leah, when Jodie Foster was a big movie star, i’m talking late 80s-90s, there were lots of black stars. Up and comers, B list, C list even D list.
There were shows on mainstream TV worldwide that showcased black talent. And those actors were A list during that time.
Off the top of my head, Robin Givens (hugely helped by her screwed relationship with Mike Tyson), Lisa Bonet, Bill Cosby, Cube Gooding Jr, Wesley Snipes, Denzel and Will (obviously), Halle Berry, entire casts off shows like ‘Fame’ (Leroy!) – Debbie Allen, Paula Abdul (for non movie reasons, but she was A List), ‘It’s a different world’, ‘In Living Colour’, ‘Different Strokes’, Dianah Caroll ( revival based on her stint on ‘Dynasty’) Eddie Murphy, James Earl Jones, OJ (I know, but he was very good in those police spoof films), Arsenio Hall (who parlayed his friendship with Eddie Murphy into a late night talk show and movie career), Eriq La Salle, Angela Bassett etc etc and so forth.
What seems to have happened to Hollywood is exactly what happened to fashion. It white-ed out. No more diversity. The black celebrity faces we tend to see today all made their bones in the 80s/90s on TV or films. They were all predicted to become superstars. Whether or not they would have reached the heights of true A Lister-dom is unknown since that is only granted to about 10 people every decade.
Even the A listers of today, majority are late 30s+. All made their bones in the 80s/90s. Including Jodie Foster. You look at the oscar lists and it’s still the same people from 20yrs ago being nominated. The current actors are all looking to book franchises and that has nought to do with their talent.
Just about the only A list Superstar from the past 10yrs is Robert Pattinson. His films are beside the point. He is tabloid fodder no matter what, yet he doesn’t actively engage. Few interviews outside his work. Doesn’t bother to dress up and play to the audience, doesn’t attend premieres or do any of the things all other actors do to remain relevant, yet his star continues to shine brightly and his acting choices are eccentric at best. No other actor is tolerated to act this way. All the other actors his age have to shill and work and grind to get any notice.
I went off tangent completely, but i’ll go back to my original point which is that Black actors have faded from the mainstream, except on the kids channels. In the 80s/90s, whether or not they were superstars, and there were more than just Denzel, Will and Eddie, there were far more black faces in the mainstream.
These days, they are only hired for specialist films eg all the slavery films or ‘black films’ and not so much in the mainstream. Which makes it hard to grow a pool of potential superstars.
While we are here, same goes for other ethnicities. They started to be visible in the mainstream in the 80/90s and then faded away in the 00s. You look at the cast of THE JOYLUCK CLUB, a film made in the early 90s, and realise that those actresses are still the go-to actresses for Asian roles today. No new Asian actresses have been nurtured in the meantime.
I disagree with him. There are tons of gay and lesbian actors/actresses working in Hollywood. I like his work as an actor but I’m a bit disappointed that just like Sophia Vergara he can’t see that there’s a problem for the group because he as an individual has had good luck. One person working consistently doesn’t mean there isn’t a problem. I’m not sure whether he’s trying to distance himself from African Americans or stay in the good graces of casting directors by avoiding the question but he totally went off on a tangent and contributed nothing to the oscarssowhite discussion.
I thought his answer was more complex than Vergara’s though. He didn’t necessarily say it was much easier to be black — he simply seemed to extend the point and note that there can also potentially be other difficult situations to deal with. I didn’t get the sense that he was completely negating that people of colour face discrimination. Vergara’s answer sounded really air-heady, whereas his answer seemed to extend the discussion into other areas.
There are tons of gay actors who are not openly gay to the general public,in Hollywood.I just looked at the top films of 2015,I can’t think of any films with an openly gay lead actor or actress.Of course many of the actors in those films are gay but they are not open about their sexuality to their fans.Just like there are tons of gay players in the NFL or NBA,but none of them are out to the general public.
In the interview he talks about racial diversity,but of course some sites like Contact Music chose to focus on a couple of sentences where he mentioned gay actors.
I don’t know how i feel about this. I adore him, but it feels like hes just talking purely subjectively when it comes to POC, like he isn’t able to imagine how its been for others because hes had it relatively easy.
Whereas he is objectively able to imagine how hard it is to be gay in HW. Thats a bit weird to me.
The thing is someone like Ben Whishaw is openly gay and has a stellar career like Chiwetel. Theres always going to be exceptions to the rule.
Furthermore there are more gay people in powerful positions in HW than there are black people.
Its generally problematic when its framed like its a competition. Its not a competition, theres a lot of work to done all around.
You are correct there are more gay people in powerful positions.Those gay agents,studio heads etc continue to encourage gay film actors to remain in the closet.That is shameful,IMO
I’m going to be the superficial one here and just point out the fact that he’s such a beautiful guy.
He really is a scene-stealer and his face is simply mesmerizing to watch. Love him.
But what about gay black actors, Mr ejiofor?
This feels a bit like when Julie Delpy said its worse for women. It’s like they don’t account for black peoole who are gay or female.
On him.Majority of black actors didn’t go to dulwich college. It’s been easier for him not only because of his great talent but because he’s comfortable with the language and code of elite Britain.
Yes, or when Oscar Isaac said he didn’t felt identified with the Latino community, as he was brought as white (inadvertently perpetuating a wrong stereotype).
I think those kind of answers aren’t probably meant to sound as tone deaf, yet they can end up doing more bad than good because they keep broadening the distances between groups in disadvantage (race minorities, women, lgtb comunity, people of different religions, etc.). It’s like they don’t understand it is about getting equal opportunities for everyone, not a game of “who suffers the most”.
He says it’s harder to be gay and if an actor is gay and black, that still counts as gay. So I don’t get your confusion.
I do. As it’s compared to black peoples.
Commentators in this site called that French actress out after she compared the issues women face and poc. Critique was she forgotten all about black women. Kinda the same thing.
Didn’t the French actress say something quite inflammatory though? She was complaining that she wouldn’t be attacked if she were black (or something weird like that). She diminished support for another group in order to victimize herself.
In contrast, this actor seemed to be extending his support to another marginalized group rather than trying to denigrate anyone. The context of what they said is quite different, even if intersectionality was not mentioned. I get that he probably could have mentioned how different marginalizations can intersect, but his comment didn’t strike me as mean-spirited whereas hers certainly did.
Sad that chiwetel only gets lots of comments when he says something a bit controversial.
That said, I don’t like what he said it seems polarising.
Oustanding actor. You go, Chiwetel!
Kate’s addicted to tweaking these days. Not the Miley Cyrus kind though.
I think you may have meant to say that Kate is tweaking and Miley is twerking.
Thanks. I’m now fully aware of the difference, having had my coffee. 🙂
Chiwetel is a gorgeous man. That is all.
I lost a lot of respect for him for saying that…we continue to be our own worst enemy..it’s embarrassing
Who is ‘we’?