For more than 30 years, Thandiwe Newton was credited as Thandie Newton – something that came not from a decision to declare itself more salable to Hollywood, but from a spelling mistake. The “w” was “carelessly omitted on his first credit”, reveals British Vogue in an in-depth profile with the Westworld star, who announced that he is now recovering the original spelling of his name.
“That is my name. It has always been my name. I am taking back what is mine,” said Newton in a British Vogue cover story about the award-winning British actress. Newton announced that for all future film and television projects , she will be credited as Thandiwe Newton, the original spelling of her name that was only changed to Thandie due to a spelling mistake in her first credit, the feature film of 1991 Flirting. Thandiwe means “loved” in Shona.
“The thing I am most grateful for in our business now is to be in the company of other people who really see me. And not being an accomplice in objectifying black people as ‘others’, which is what happens when you are the only one, ”said Newton.
In profile, Newton reflected on his debut role in Flerting, which was directed by Australian director John Duigan, to whom she has made accusations of sexual abuse since 2011, although her story did not gain traction until the #MeToo movement. Newton only recently went into detail about how she – at 16 – was coerced into a relationship with Duigan, during a 2020 episode of the WTF podcast with Marc Maron.
“There was a time when my ghost changed, you know, and it was then, I was 16,” Newton told British Vogue. “He got me off the track completely. I was traumatized. It was a kind of PTSD, for sure. I was so upset and shocked that a director had abused a young actress, and that it was happening elsewhere, minors being abused and how it was all fucked up. I was basically waiting for someone to come in and say, ‘Well, what are we supposed to do about it?’ “
In addition to claiming his name, Newton has since fought for equal pay alongside Evan Rachel Wood in the HBO sci-fi series Westworld, winning the battle against the pay gap with his male co-stars in season three. “It was not a celebration. I was disgusted, ”said Newton of the victory. “Even though people know they can speak now, there is still a fear of losing their job. I mean, literally, people still say, ‘There’s someone else who could take that position, if you’re not happy’, that kind of shit. I think studio heads need to take a lot more responsibility. “
Interesting posts from around the web: