Billy Dee Williams, recognized for his half in Star Wars amongst different issues has lately come out and voiced some… fascinating opinions.
Talking on Invoice Maher’s “Membership Random” podcast, the 2 started speaking concerning the 1965 adaptation of Othello with Laurence Olivier within the titular position. For individuals who haven’t seen it, Olivier wore blackface to painting the character. “When he did ‘Othello’, I fell out laughing […] I assumed it was hysterical.” Maher didn’t fairly share Williams’ view on Olivier’s portrayal, labeling it as “problematic” and happening to say “at the moment, they might by no means allow you to try this.”
I imply he’s not improper, there are quite a lot of explanation why individuals don’t do blackface at the moment. Nevertheless, Williams’ response got here as a shock asking “Why not?” earlier than doubling down and saying “it’s best to do it, […] if you happen to’re an actor it’s best to do something you need.” The remark caught Maher off guard together with anyone watching most definitely.
Williams’ opinion appears to return from a place of not limiting an actor as an artist in any method; that race shouldn’t come into the dialog and that giving the actor full artistic freedom to do as they need is what’s necessary. Even when what they need is blackface. He doesn’t assume too deeply about race in the case of performing which is a stance he appears to have at all times held judging by this interview from 1980.
Maher factors out that the Nighthawks star “really lived in a interval the place you couldn’t play the components it’s best to’ve performed.” to which Williams responded “the actual fact is you talk about it, […] you don’t undergo life feeling like ‘I’m a sufferer’” to which Maher agrees.
That’s undoubtedly a wild tackle the dialog surrounding blackface. Billy Dee Williams would possibly assume it’s alright; however I don’t assume there are a lot of actors on the market prepared to place his phrases into motion.