Dame Helen Mirren says there is “something offensive” about “assuming a certain physiognomy” to play a particular race and thinks she “can see” why some people are uncomfortable with non-Jewish actors playing Jewish historical figures.
Mirren, 78, stars as former prime minister of Israel Golda Meir in the upcoming biopic Golda and was asked if she understood the recent backlash Hollywood actor Bradley Cooper faced over wearing a prosthetic nose to portray US composer Leonard Bernstein in the film Maestro.
Speaking on the BBC One program Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg, Mirren was asked whether she could see why people were uncomfortable with what some term “Jew face”.
“I think I can see, but sometimes I can’t see, because, I can’t see who in this room is Jewish,” she said.
“We are all such an amazing mix and certainly I don’t have an issue with Kirk Douglas playing a Viking.
“Kirk Douglas was Jewish.
“I think the whole question of assuming a certain physiognomy because you’re playing a particular race – there is something offensive about that.
“On the other hand, if you’re playing Leonard Bernstein, and this is really what Leonard Bernstein looked like, you know, maybe it’s a good idea.
Read the article by Hannah Roberts in The Canberra Times.