I was reading about this another site, and people were commenting that a Latina should play the role of Mariane, because she is half Afro-Cuban (and half Dutch). They felt that her Cuban roots should have opened up a spot for a Latina. To be honest, I think they should have picked whoever could resemble Mariane (which may or may not be Angelina, but it's too late now), not just someone who has the same heritage. I also read that Mariane is Buddhist, so she may have been pleased with Angelina's interest in Buddhism.

Shoot, if someone were to play me in a movie, they'd probably have to pick someone with a different ethnic background from mine. I wouldn't care as long as they looked like me.

Storm's stumpin' for votes! Halle Berry will tackle Class Act, a true story about a Reno, Nev., sixth-grade teacher who lets her students convince her to run for Congress in 2000, but only if they'll help her run her campaign. ''She's started [to run] as a lesson,'' says producer Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas (Mona Lisa Smile), ''and ended up getting caught up in it.'' The casting of Berry is notable because the teacher she's playing, Tierney Cahill, is white in real life. ''At first it was, 'Too bad it can't be Halle,''' explains Goldsmith-Thomas, who first learned of Class Act while making the upcoming Perfect Stranger with Berry. ''And then it was, 'Why can't it be Halle?' We called Tierney, who in reality is married to a black man and has biracial children, and we said Halle Berry is interested in playing you. She had one word for it: 'Fantastic.' We all say let's be color blind, but until we are, you know, we aren't. The color of her skin was irrelevant, so who was I to make it relevant?'' Doug Atchison (Akeelah and the Bee) is attached to write and direct.

I'll be honest: When I first heard about this, as much as I like Angelina, I was a bit pissed... and more than a bit confused. Angelina -- part-Iroquois or no -- is phenotypically white as the driven snow.

But then I thought broader of the situation...

She and Brad certainly could have found any number of talented biracial actresses to play the part -- and maybe it would have been a show of sensitivity more consistent of them. But ultimately it's the story here that matters most -- and Mariane Pearl's ancestry had nothing to do with it.

Anyway, Halle Berry, for example, ain't Afro-Cuban/Dutch. So should the global Afro-Cuban/Dutch contingient have been pissed if the role went to her? And if an Afro-Cuban/Dutch actress had gotten the part, would it be proper only if her real-life husband were a dark-haired Jew... and a reporter... named Dan? I mean, where does the ownership of identity end?

Unfortunately, any beef with this decision does have some creedence given Hollywood's history of taking rather insulting liberties where talent and stories of people of color are regarded. But at the end of the day, no one is a better authority on the integrity of Mrs. Pearl's depiction than Mrs. Pearl -- and if she's cool with this, I can cut Angie some slack here.

As an aside, I've seen Angelina in the makeup, and she looks suprisingly like Mariane Pearl! And I trust that Angelina is a strong enough actress to pull this off. She's been in some dogs, but she definitely deserved that Oscar .
[Edited 10/13/06 23:15pm]

Lammastide said:

read my thread above and comment...please

Angelina Jolie is currently shooting a movie in India where she plays a biracial woman....this is beginning to cause a stir.

http://www.news.com.au/da...26,00.html


ANGELINA Jolie has sparked a race row by playing a mixed-race woman in her latest film.

The Hollywood beauty has been cast as the widow of murdered US journalist Daniel Pearl in A Mighty Heart - which is being produced by Angelina's partner Brad Pitt.

The casting decision has angered black campaign groups who are furious a white woman has been chosen for the role.

One outraged person wrote on website blacklooks.org: "I had assumed the days when white actors took on roles of black people had long passed."

Another wrote: "You can't tell me Halle Berry, Judy Reyes or other women of African descent wouldn't have been a better choice."

Oscar winner Angelina plays French freelance reporter Mariane Pearl, who was five months pregnant when her husband was kidnapped by Islamic extremists in Pakistan in 2002.

The Wall Street Journal reporter was later beheaded. Despite the furore surrounding the film, the real-life Mariane, 39, is pleased that Angelina will be playing her in the movie.

She said: "I'm delighted Angelina Jolie will be playing my role. I deeply admire her work."

Angelina Jolie IS bi-racial.

And what's the difference betwixt this and Jessica Alba playing a white woman in F4? ..which I still don't understand..

cborgman said:

Outside of the jews, most people didn't notice the other obvious omissions and blatant inaccuracies. Then again that's the movies for you. It's like London born Daniel Day Lewis potraying an Irishmen in My Left Foot and In the Name of the Father.
[Edited 10/13/06 13:07pm]

She looks black, why not. Quit hatin.

if someone is biracial aren't they black and white so that would be that one race could not claim her as fully a white or black person?

Wow. This is so werid. My friend Ariel is like obsessed with Angelina Jolie. Ariel is bi racial and she seriously thought Angelina was too! I'm like honnie both her parents are white. She was like "Really??? Oh I thought she was bi racial!"

Krystal666 said:

Have you been paying attention in this thread? We already established that she is.