Helen Mirren Responds to ‘Jewface’ Criticism Over Golda Meir Role
variety.comK.J. Yossman Helen Mirren, who plays Israeli prime minister Golda Meir in an upcoming biopic, has broken her silence on the debate around her casting.“Golda,” which wrapped in December and also stars “Call My Agent’s” Camille Cottin, is directed by Israeli filmmaker Guy Nattiv (“Skin”).However, there was disquiet over the casting around the time the film was shooting in London, last winter, after photographs emerged of Mirren looking drastically different for the role.Actor Maureen Lipman (“The Pianist”) told Variety in Jan.: “Helen will be great.
Good actress, sexy and intelligent. Looks the part. [But] my opinion, and that’s what it is, a mere opinion, is that if the character’s race, creed or gender drives or defines the portrayal then the correct — for want of an umbrella [term] — ethnicity should be a priority.” At the time, Mirren declined to comment but in an interview with the Daily Mail’s showbiz columnist Baz Bamigboye last week she reportedly said: “It was certainly a question that I had, before I accepted the role.”“[Meir] is a very important person in Israeli history,” Mirren continued. “I said, ‘Look Guy, I’m not Jewish, and if you want to think about that, and decide to go in a different direction, no hard feelings.
I will absolutely understand.’ But he very much wanted me to play the role, and off we went.”“I do believe it is a discussion that has to be had – it’s utterly legitimate. [But] You know, if someone who’s not Jewish can’t play Jewish, does someone who’s Jewish play someone who’s not Jewish?”She compared the debate around her casting as Meir to that around authentically casting gay characters.
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