Black Brits in Hollywood by Marsha Prescod

bfm looks at some of the black acting talent from this country who have managed to make their mark in the US Delroy Lindo,Thandie Newton, Eamonn Walker, Marianne JeanBaptiste… the list goes on: actors from the UK are going to America and making it in TV and film. A change from the more usual situation where an AfricanAmerican actor is imported for a film role here whilst countless black Brits are overlooked. That situation has happened often enough over the last 60 or so years. Paul Robeson, (still the only black actor to win a BAFTA, unbelievable as that may seem) Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker, brought in to do roles which, in some cases, required them to speak with English accents. So it makes a nice change to point to people from here who have reversed the flow. This issue of bfm looks at some of the black acting talent from this country who have managed to make their mark in the US. Some made their mark in theatre before going into film such as Adrian Lester. Some did it by sheer talent and everyone assuming that they actually were American, like Delroy Lindo, a Londoner. Some managed it due to a combination of talent, luck, good connections (Cruise and Kidman pre the split) and being beautiful, like Thandie Newton. Some have done it via indie cinema such as Marianne JeanBaptiste, whose Oscarnominated role in Secrets and Lies made the industry sit up and take notice. Unfortunately, it wasn't the industry here which did that. Given the almost nonexistent state of the British film industry, and the reluctance of filmmakers here to cast black actors in film with the odd exception like Guy Ritchie - it might well be a good idea for actors from the African and Caribbean communities here to actively pursue a sojourn in the US to further their careers. After all, George Lucas could actually think of casting black Brits in minor and major roles in Star Wars. What with Eddie and Will and Whoopie and Wesley and Halle etc, the words 'black' and 'film star' do not appear to be oxymorons in the US. excerpt, find out more in bfm Vol 3, Issue 12 top