Thandie Newton Accuses Hollywood Of Racism

THANDIE NEWTON has shocked Hollywood by insisting racism is still prevalent within the movie industry.

The British actress, who is of Zimbabwean descent, admits she once auditioned for a film role, but was left stunned when the studio boss questioned how a black woman could play the part of a college graduate.

Newton explains, "I've experienced racism in Hollywood but not as conflict or in a threatening way, just the ignorance of people.

"There was one time I went for a meeting for this big movie and I was up for a character who wasn't written as black. The character was a college graduate and the studio head, a woman, said, 'How can we make this role more black if we are going to have you in the film?' And I said, 'Well, I think as it's written it's fine...' And she said, 'Yeah, I know, but she is a graduate, she has been to university.' So I said, 'I've been to university.' And then it was, 'Yeah, but you're different.'"

The Crash star insists she didn't take offence to the comments - but she did refuse to take the job. She adds, "I wasn't offended. It's just nonsense. But no, I didn't do the film."

--IANS-WENN