Joseph Fiennes defends Michael Jackson role: 'I'm born into a generation of colorblind casting'

Joseph Fiennes talks playing Michael Jackson

(Image credit: AP/YouTube)

last updated 18 February 2016

White British actor Joseph Fiennes came in for a lot of grief when it was announced he's playing Michael Jackson in a post-9/11 road trip movie alongside actors portraying Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brando. Fiennes told The Associated Press on Wednesday that he doesn't think the criticism is fair. "I love challenges, I feel like I'm a character actor, and of course this is territory that is very sensitive," Fiennes said. After the writers and producer and director cast him as Jackson, he said, he decided that "this is a positive, lighthearted comedy," not a divisive project.

"If there's a debate to be had about that, then it's a really important and interesting one, and I'm always welcome for that," Fiennes said. "I'm born into a generation of colorblind casting — I've known nothing but." For example, 20 years ago he was a dresser at a theater where a black actress was playing Marilyn Monroe. "Two critics refused to see it, because she was black," Fiennes said. "I couldn't understand that because she was Marilyn for me. It was a lack of imagination on their part." His rule of thumb, he said, is "if it promotes stereotyping, then it's wrong, and I made the distinction that the Jackson project does not do that." You can watch the AP interview below. Peter Weber

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.

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