 Dame Helen Mirren has said she thinks she 'can see' why some people are uncomfortable with non-Jewish actors playing Jewish historical figures and said that there is 'something offensive' about 'assuming a certain physiognomy' to play a particular race. Dame Helen, 78, plays the former prime minister of Israel, Golda Meir, in upcoming biopic Golda and was asked if she understood the recent backlash Hollywood actor Bradley Cooper faced over wearing a prosthetic nose to portray the American composer Leonard Bernstein in film Maestro. Speaking about whether she can see why people are uncomfortable with what some term 'Jewface', the actress said: 'I think I can see, but sometimes I can't see, because I can't see who in this room is Jewish. 'We are all such an amazing mix and certainly I don't have an issue with Kirk Douglas playing a Viking. Kirk Douglas was Jewish. 'I think the whole question of assuming a certain physiognomy because you're playing a particular race. There is something offensive about that.' 'On the other hand, if you're playing Leonard Bernstein, and this is really what Leonard Bernstein looked like, you know, maybe it's a good idea. It's as I said it's a very delicate balance,' she explained on the BBC One programme Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The acclaimed actress is to play Israeli prime minister Gold Meir (Picture: Getty) Dame Maureen Lipman was among those who criticised Dame Helen's casting as 'Jewface' (Picture: Bleecker Street via AP) Cooper was heavily criticised for donning a prosthetic to play Bernstein in his upcoming biopic, also directed by the star, but the composer's children leapt to his defence. Jamie, Alexander and Nina Bernstein released a public joint statement in which they said Cooper had 'included th){kind=link}
NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
Dame Helen Mirren has said she thinks she ‘can see’ why some people are uncomfortable with non-Jewish actors playing Jewish historical figures and said that there is ‘something offensive’ about ‘assuming a certain physiognomy’ to play a particular race.
Dame Helen, 78, plays the former prime minister of Israel, Golda Meir, in upcoming biopic Golda and was asked if she understood the recent backlash Hollywood actor Bradley Cooper faced over wearing a prosthetic nose to portray the American composer Leonard Bernstein in film Maestro.
Speaking about whether she can see why people are uncomfortable with what some term ‘Jewface’, the actress said: ‘I think I can see, but sometimes I can’t see, because I can’t see who in this room is Jewish.
‘We are all such an amazing mix and certainly I don’t have an issue with Kirk Douglas playing a Viking. Kirk Douglas was Jewish.