{blackbabes} Thandie Newton faced ‘racism and sexism’ in UK castings

 

Ebates.ca - Amazon.com - Amazon.ca - Wal-Mart - GameStop - Match.com - Work From Home

Thandie Newton is addressing the lack of roles for people of color in the UK. The London-born actress, who stars in HBO's "Westworld," said that due to British television focusing on period dramas, she can't work in her native country.

"I love being [in the UK], but I can't work, because I can't do 'Downton Abbey,' can't be in 'Victoria,' can't be in 'Call the Midwife,'" Newton, who lives in Los Angeles, told Sunday Times Magazine. "Well, I could, but I don't want to play someone who's being racially abused."

"I'm not interested in that, don't want to do it," she added. Despite a career that spans decades, Newton explained how it's "slim picking" for non-white actors when many series focus on events from the past.

"There just seems to be a desire for stuff about the royal family, stuff from the past, which is understandable, but it just makes it slim pickings for people of color," she explained, adding that she's had to overcome many other obstacles during her career. "I'm talented at what I do, but I've had to struggle against racism and sexism. But I'm glad of it, in a way, that I survived and overcame."

Newton currently stars in the BBC drama "Line of Duty" and will return for season 2 of "Westworld." She's also slated to appear in the "Star Wars" Han Solo movie.

The actress' remarks come weeks after Samuel L. Jackson questioned the casting of British actors in African-American roles and specifically calling out "Get Out" star Daniel Kaluuya.

Kaluuya responded to Jackson's comments by stating that he shouldn't have to prove he's black. "When I'm around black people, I'm made to feel 'other' because I'm dark-skinned. I've had to wrestle with that, with people going, 'You're too black.' Then I come to America, and they say, 'You're not black enough.' I go to Uganda, I can't speak the language. In India, I'm black. In the black community, I'm dark-skinned. In America, I'm British. Bro!" he expressed.

"This is the frustrating thing, bro — in order to prove that I can play this role, I have to open up about the trauma that I've experienced as a black person."

Entertainment Plaza - TV, Movies, Sports, Music, Soaps
http://almosthuman99.com

Babe Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/babes/babeofthemonth.html

Hunk Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/hunks/hunkofthemonth.html

{blackbabes} Inside Meghan Markle & Serena Williams' Friendship

Ebates.ca - Amazon.com - Amazon.ca - Wal-Mart - GameStop - Match.com - Work From Home

Meghan Markle and Serena Williams' friendship is the gift that keeps on giving.

When news of the Suits actress relationship with Prince Harry surfaced last October, there was a singular name included in nearly every roundup of need-to-know facts about the relatively under-the-radar star. Yes, you guessed it—the one and only Ms. Williams.

In light of reports that Meghan will receive a plus-one invitation to the tennis all-star's upcoming wedding to Alexis Ohanian that will presumably go to her Royal boyfriend, we thought it vital to take a deep dive into one of Hollywood's not-so-unlikely friendships.

Let's begin, shall we?

 

Serena and Meghan first crossed paths in February 2014, teaming up to play a game of flag football at DIRECTV's Celebrity Beach Bowl alongside fellow beauties about town, Hannah Jeter, Nina Agdal and Shay Mitchell. The duo buddied up without hesitation, and in a Q&A with William posted to Markle's lifestyle website The Tig, Meghan discussed what charmed her about the pro athlete.

"We hit it off immediately, taking pictures, laughing through the flag football game we were both playing in, and chatting not about tennis or acting, but about all the good old fashioned girly stuff," Meghan wrote. "So began our friendship."

 

Fast forward seven months, when Meghan cheered on her newfound bestie as she won her third consecutive U.S. Open championship in September 2014. "She did it! @serenawilliams ! #bravo #friends #usopen," she captioned a photo taken from the stands of Williams moments after she became victorious.

She later celebrated Serena's win at the 2015 Australian Open with a photo from their congratulatory embrace at the previous event. Markle tweeted, "So happy for you @serenawilliams!! I was juuuust hugging you for your win at #usopen. Now @AustralianOpen! #onfire"

 

Ahead of Meghan's next appearance at a tennis match, Williams lent her support by contributing to numerous blog posts on The Tig. A self-proclaimed inspiration junkie, Markle called on Serena, who she described as one of her "closest friends" (along with Priyanka Chopra, Olivia Palermo and Abigail Spencer), to share her wisdom.

Then last summer, Meghan flew across the pond to attend Serena's Wimbledon match, and as fate would have it, sat just a few rows down in the Royal Box from Pippa Middleton. And if our calculations are correct, Meghan and Prince Harry reportedly linked up around this time. Suffice to say, we might have Serena and Meghan's lovefest to thank for the next royal wedding down the line!

 

If Serena and Meghan hadn't reached #FriendshipGoals at this point, the latter's sweet words of encouragement during her New York Fashion Week show in September 2016 totally sealed the deal.

"My eyes are closed but my heart is so open!" Markle captioned an Instagram photo of the darling duo. "So proud of your new collection @serenawilliams Happy I could be there to support you xx #NYFW"

In sum, let's pass it off to Meghan, who described their friendship perfectly. "She quickly became a confidante I would text when I was traveling, the friend I would rally around for her tennis matches, and the down to earth chick I was able to grab lunch with just a couple weeks ago in Toronto," she penned to The Tig.

Markle continued, "We are both the same age, have a penchant for hot sauces, and adore fashion, but what connects us more than those things is perhaps our belief in exceeding expectations–our endless ambition."

Celebrity friendships—they're just like ours!

Entertainment Plaza - TV, Movies, Sports, Music, Soaps
http://almosthuman99.com

Babe Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/babes/babeofthemonth.html

Hunk Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/hunks/hunkofthemonth.html