Just when we thought there weren't enough leading roles for Black women
in Hollywood, they create one and give it to a White woman. Film
producer Scott Rudin has purchased the film rights to upcoming
biography 'Queen of the Nile, Cleopatra: A Life,' and has confirmed
that the movie "is being developed for and with [Angelina] Jolie."
Jolie,
a Hollywood A-lister, will do her best in bringing the story of the
famed Egyptian queen to life, and it appears no one doubts she
can do it... including Pulitzer prize-winning author Stacy Schiff, who penned the biography, "Cleopatra: A Life," a book that won't be on shelves until the fall. Schiff already heavily endorses Jolie, stating, "I think she'd be perfect for it and I can see a possible Oscar in her future. Physically, she's got the perfect look." Gasp, the nerve! "She's got the perfect look?" 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. I mean, isn't it enough that 47 years ago, dame Elizabeth Taylor was cast to portray Cleopatra in one of the most expensive films ever made? That Elizabeth Taylor was actually the
third White woman to be tapped for the Cleopatra role -- following Vivien Leigh and Claudette Colbert -- just makes this all the more comical. Were Vanessa Williams, Halle Berry and Thandie Newton unavailable for auditions that day? Why does Hollywood think it's even slightly plausible to cast White women in roles that would be more sensible to cast a Black actress for? Especially when that role is an African queen. It happened just two years ago, in 2007's thriller "Stuck," directed by Stuart Gordon, based on the true story of a Chante Mallard. The story tells a tale of a woman who hits a homeless man with her car and results with him trapped in her car's windshield. Instead of getting the man help, Mallard (played by actress Mena Suvari) opts to let him die slowly in her garage. The interesting thing is Mallard is a Black woman, and Suvari, who was cast to play the role, is -- surprise, surprise -- a White woman. Adding insult to injury, instead of just casting a Black woman to play the role, the film gave Suvari a more "ethnic look" for the role, by adding stereotypical cornrows to her hair. Hollywood, are you serious? Now, Jolie is set to play Cleopatra, who isn't as technically perfect as some would claim if you study the Queen of the Nile's distinguished history. First and foremost, the role should be given to a younger actress -- think Jurnee Smollett -- considering Cleopatra began her reign as Queen of Egypt at the tender age of 18 and ended her own life at the age of 39. Secondly, while historically there is no concrete confirmation that Cleopatra was of a darker complexion, there is more evidence than not that she was Black, and not entirely of Macedonian Greek ancestry, as Shakespeare, leagues of painters and now Hollywood would have us believe. And, ultimately, while Cleopatra's heritage remains under speculation, it remains that she was in fact an African queen. Jolie -- not so perfect. What's next? A biopic on Sojourner Truth played by Betty White?
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Historians have been debating Cleopatra race for years,they keep saying she is Greek. by answer me this even if her father is Greek what about her mother? they have no knowledge of her race but they insist on saying Cleopatra is white.they have no prof only theories,their refusal on insisting that she is white could be that the idea of such a powerful woman being black is unthinkable to them. because black people should never hold that much power.if Egypt was the kind of country they say it was I find it hard to believe that a country that has had so many black kings and queen could have a white ruler, without people rebelling to over throw her. so they can say what ever they want to say I will never believe or bye into their crop.because a lot of historians change history of what is. and try to p*** it as what they want to be true.
Posted 15 days ago by machelSorry Rita. You are wrong.
Yes, she was a Ptolemy, which were Macedonians. And, the Ptolemies pushed hard for the Macedonian/Greek civilians to ***imilate into Egyptian culture.
Neither Cleopatra's grandmother nor her mother are for sure known. Cleopatra was an illegitimate child. And this is why any person who h****tudied Cleopatra would tell you that her race is UNKNOWN.
If you ask me, she is most likely mixed (or BLACK, as you label us in the US). I believe this because
#1 Australian archaeologists recently found the sister Cleopatra (Arsinoe) killed and have deduced that because of the size of her skull, she was at least partially of African decent.
#2 She was the first Ptolemy to take the time to learn Egyptian. And, she also did other things which would seem as if she went to great lengths if she wasn't Egyptian already.
#3 She would have at least been some kind of tan in the Egyptian sun. COME ON!
Just admit she wasn't Elizabeth Taylor lilly white and be done with it.
Posted 113 days ago by danielleCleopatra was a Ptolemic queen. This means she was of Greek descent. The Ptolemies invaded Egypt with Alexander the Great, and ruled after his death. They mostly married their brothers and sisters, so Cleopatra would've looked pretty Greek. She wasn't African.
Posted 161 days ago by Rita