Samuel L. Jackson slams casting of black British actors in US films

Los Angeles March 9 (IANS) American actor Samuel L. Jackson says Hollywood should stop constantly casting black British actors -- who come at a cheaper price -- in American roles they cannot fully understand.

The 68-year-old actor discussed the matter on Monday during a radio interview with WQHT Hot 97 in New York and referenced 27-year-old English actor Daniel Kaluuya who stars in Get Out reports telegraph.co.uk.

Jackson said US filmmakers believe British actors were better because of their classical training but warned they could not fully understand the roles they are playing.

In particular he singled out new comedy horror film Get Out a satire on interracial dating in the US. Get Out has received widespread critical acclaim since its release on February 24 and has earned $84 million at the global box office.

Jackson said: They come here because there are more opportunities and they actually get paid when they work here. We ve got a lot of brothers here that need to work too.

Asked about Get Out specifically he said: I think it s great that movie s doing everything it s doing and people are loving it. But I know the young brother who s in the movie and he s British. There are a lot of black British actors who work here all the time.

I tend to wonder what would that movie would have been with an American brother who really understands it in a way. Daniel grew up in a country where they ve been interracial dating for a hundred years. What would a brother from America have made of that role?

Jackson also singled out Selma the Martin Luther King biopic starring British actor David Oyelowo reports telegraph.co.uk.

Asked why British actors were so successful in US he said: They re cheaper than us for a start. They don t cost as much. Unless you re a known brother. And they (filmmakers) think they re better than we are because they re classically trained.

--IANS
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