“This has definitely elevated my profile”: Queen Cleopatra Actor Adele James Has Become More Famous After Jada Smith Series Blackwashing Criticism
The Egyptian government objected to the Netflix docuseries, Queen Cleopatra‘s portrayal of the legendary ruler as having dark skin, and thus, casting the show’s star, Adele James. Everyone is well aware that Egyptian citizens, including their government, have strongly reacted to Netflix’s decision to racially swap their history for Queen Cleopatra.
However, the docuseries’ lead actress, Adele James, is unconcerned by any of it, as she believes that everything is simply the result of racism and self-hatred. Because a black actor (James) was portraying the historical figure, news of the docuseries’ release caused a stir in Egypt.
The antiquities ministry and other prominent figures in the country have argued that Queen Cleopatra had “white skin and Hellenistic characteristics”.
Now, during her recent appearance on the popular, The Wayne Ayers Podcast, James finally discussed the backlash and criticism she has been facing.
Adele James Responds To ‘Fundamentally Racist’ Casting Criticism
The decision to cast Adele James, who has mixed ancestry, as Queen Cleopatra was made by the producers to reflect historical research suggesting that ancient Egypt’s population was multicultural and multiracial. However, Netflix is yet to comment on this decision.
As stated in a story published last month on Netflix’s Tudum website:
“Her ethnicity is not the focus of Queen Cleopatra, but we did intentionally decide to depict her of mixed ethnicity to reflect theories about Cleopatra’s possible Egyptian ancestry and the multicultural nature of Ancient Egypt.”
Some Egyptologists have expressed displeasure with the portrayal.
In a recent appearance on the 79th episode of The Wayne Ayers Podcast, the British actress asked, “Blackwashing isn’t a thing, is it?”, referring to the ongoing controversy over Queen Cleopatra’s race and heritage.
The Casualty star added:
“I find it sad that people are either so self-loathing or so threatened by Blackness that they feel the need to do that, to separate Egypt from the rest of the continent,”
This is certainly the biggest public issue she has ever had to deal with, but James seems totally unconcerned.
“It’s the most I’ve had to navigate personally, as an actress, this has definitely elevated my profile considerably on an international scale.”
Also read: Cleopatra: Gal Gadot’s Film Will Now Be Directed By ‘Falcon & The Winter Soldier’ Director
What She Hopes Viewers Would Take Away From The Docuseries
The biopic, which made its global debut on Netflix on Wednesday, is a component of Jada Pinkett Smith‘s documentary series that looks at the lives of well-known and enduring African queens.
Later, during their conversation, Adele James admitted to Wayne Ayers that the basis for her defense of Netflix’s racial swapping was contemporary theories of race politics. According to the actress, racism—a very contemporary ideology—is “100% fundamentally rooted in the response from the Egyptian people.”
Finally, Ayers asked James what reviewers can expect from the Netflix series to bring their conversation to a close. In any case, James said:
“I hope that they will understand that it’s a debate, a conversation, and it’s not a definitive answer if they watch it and if they give us some hate views.
And she concluded:
“Cleopatra is no more reduced to what her heritage may or may not have been than I am, or any of us. We’re all full human beings, and she was a full human being, a person. And that’s what this is about.”
For the unversed, Queen Cleopatra was born in Alexandria, Egypt, in the year 69 BC. She succeeded her father, Ptolemy XII, as ruler in 51 BC, and reigned until her death in 30 BC. Her exact skin tone is still uncertain because so many details about her family tree, including the race of her mother, are unknown.
Netflix is currently streaming Queen Cleopatra.
Source- The Wayne Ayers Podcast
