It was announced earlier this year that filmmaker Patty Jenkins will once again join longtime collaborator Gal Gadot in a period biographical drama centered on the life of Queen Cleopatra. Gadot, who is an Israeli by birth, has been accused of assuming the role of Cleopatra away from Arab or African actresses who would be better able to portray the monarch, who was believed to be of Middle Eastern ancestry. Speaking to the BBC in Arabic, as reported by The Independent, Gadot defended his decision to rehearse the role.
“First of all, if you want to be true to the facts, then Cleopatra was Macedonian. We were looking for a Macedonian actress who would fit Cleopatra. She was not there and I was very much in love with Cleopatra. I have friends from all over the world, be Muslims , Christians, Catholics, Atheists, Buddhists or Jews, of course. People are people and, with me, I want to celebrate the legacy of Cleopatra and honor this incredible historical icon that I admire so much. You know, anyone can make this film and anyone can go ahead and do it. I’m very excited to do mine too. “
The controversy over Hollywood’s color-blind fascination with Cleopatra is not a new thing. Elizabeth Taylor starred as the historical figure in 1963, directed by Joseph Mankiewicz Cleopatra, and since then the film has come to be seen as racially insensitive. More recent projects based on the Egyptian monarch had names like Angelina Jolie and Lady Gaga circulating on paper, but these projects ended up failing.
Gadot’s defense of his cast as Cleopatra is unlikely to go down well with his critics. The actress seems to be suggesting that there were no actresses available who belonged to Cleopatra’s ethnic lineage, which prompted Gadot to assume the role. This is the same excuse that Hollywood made in the past when casting Christian Bale for Moses in 2014 Exodus: Gods and Kingsor Scarlet Johansson as Motoko Kusanagi in 2017 Ghost in the Shell.
This is not the first time that Gal Gadot found himself on the wrong side of a cultural conversation. Earlier this year, in the midst of the global blockade, when economies were falling worldwide and the threat of recession was approaching, Gadot decided to collaborate with his celebrity friends on an interpretation of John Lennon’s song “Imagine” as a gesture of solidarity with people facing difficulties in isolation at home.
Unfortunately, the performance was seen as deaf, and Gadot and his millionaire friends were accused of not being in touch with the harsh reality faced by poverty-stricken people struggling to get through the blockade. The actress acknowledged the reaction against her video “Imagine”, but reiterated that her intentions were pure.
“Sometimes, you know, you try to do a good deed and it just isn’t the right good deed. I had nothing but good intentions and they came from the best place, and I just wanted to send light and love to the world.”
It will be interesting to see if Gadot will continue with his decision to rehearse the role of Cleopatra or step aside and give an actress of appropriate ethnic origin a chance. Considering the Hollywood background, you may not hold your breath for the latter. This news comes from the Independent.
Topics: Cleopatra