Helen Mirren defends playing Jewish character in ‘Golda’: ‘Ridiculous’

nypost.com:

the historical epic “Golda” garnered backlash for her portrayal of a Jewish woman.The British icon, 78, recently gave her take on the controversy to the BBC and defended the use of facial prosthetics to create the character of Meir.

There has been much debate over Mirren’s role — as well as Bradley Cooper’s playing of legendary Jewish composer Leonard Bernstein in his upcoming Netflix film “Maestro” — due to both actors being non-Jewish.The “Red” star appeared on “Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg,” and was asked if she understood the hate over the films.Mirren 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,” Mirren stated, also adding she has no problems with the opposite occurring: “Jewish actors playing non-Jewish roles.”“Certainly I don’t have an issue with Kirk Douglas playing a Viking,” she noted, referencing the 1958 swashbuckling flick, “The Vikings.” Mirren explained: “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,” the “Woman in Gold” actress said. “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 a very delicate balance,” Mirren noted.Mirren added to Radio Times that she finds it “ridiculous” that writers are being told to stay in their lanes, and “the whole issue of casting has exploded out of the water fairly recently.”“It’s more frightening for a writer to be told they are not allowed to write about subjects with which they don’t have an immediate DNA connection,” she said.