MovieChat Forums > Lupita Nyong'o Discussion > why is it so difficult for very dark-ski...

why is it so difficult for very dark-skinned actors?

posted 9 years ago by TxMike
9 replies | jump to latest

I ask this question with no hidden agenda. I am a white guy, I don't go to the theater to see movies, I always wait until the BD or DVD comes out. Or is added to Netflix streaming. I like movies of all kinds, I don't much care what ethnic groups or skin colors are represented.

Ms Nyong'o, in spite of her Oscar, still isn't very well known. In all likelihood she is no better or no worse than the dozens of other actresses roughly her age. But she is very unlikely to get a featured role in a blockbuster movie, like Jennifer Lawrence or Cate Blanchett might. Is it because of her very dark skin?

Do any random web search of lists of "most popular actresses." You get names like:

Jennifer Lawrence, Emma Stone, Scarlett Johansson, Jennifer Aniston, Natalie Portman, Kristen Stewart, Marion Cotillard, Kate Winslet, Jessica Chastain ...

There's a trend. The darkest skinned actresses I found in most lists are Halle Berry, Zoe Kravitz, and Jessica Alba.

I'm looking for some intelligent discussion, not rude or trollish comments. I know we'll get some from the juvenile posters but for intelligent discussion, what is it about very dark skinned actresses that make it almost impossible for them to become a movie star with featured roles?

..*.. TxMike ..*..
Sometimes I think we're alone in the universe, and sometimes not.

[–] TxMike 8 years ago

I never thought we would get a "definitive" answer, but I was hoping for a cross-section of opinions that don't simply rely on "racism" as an explanation.

For example last night I was watching a movie which has 4 young boys, maybe 12 or 13, who are friends and do all kinds of things together. One of the boys has very dark skin, the other three have light skin. Some of the scenes are at night and when the 4 are together the one with the very dark skin stands out but not in a positive way, it is as if he is out of place, not because of his ethnicity but because it is very difficult to light a scene where all faces look properly lit when you have a very wide range of shades.

Just an example I came across yesterday.

..*.. TxMike ..*..
Sometimes I think we're alone in the universe, and sometimes not.