Thandie Newton recalls fear of Tom Cruise, Hollywood’s Black stereotypes
At the Los Angeles premiere of new HBO series “Westworld,” stars James Marsden, Thandie Newton and Evan Rachel Wood talk about the dark themes of the show. (Sept. 29)
Thandie Newton is opening up about her experiences in Hollywood.
During an interview with Vulture, which published Tuesday, the English actress, 47, recounted a meeting she had with Amy Pascal, a film producer and former Sony Pictures Entertainment co-chairman, as well as her frustrating experience working with Tom Cruise on “Mission: Impossible 2.”
“I had a meeting with (Pascal), and she said, ‘Look, I don’t mean to be politically incorrect, but the character as written and you playing the role, I just feel like we’ve got to make sure that it’s believable.’ I was like, ‘What do you mean? What changes would you have to make?’ ” Newton said of Pascal. “She’s like, ‘Well, you know, the character, as written, she’s been to university and is educated.’ “
She continued, “I’m like, ‘I’ve been to university. I went to Cambridge.’ She went, ‘Yeah, but you’re different.’ She’s like, ‘Maybe there could be a scene where you’re in a bar and she gets up on a table and starts shaking her booty.’ She’s basically reeling off these stereotypes of how to be more convincing as a Black character.”
Newton says she turned down everything Pascal suggested.
In a statement to the outlet, Pascal said she was “horrified to hear” Newton’s description of the meeting.
“While I take her words seriously, I have no recollection of the events she describes, nor do any of her representatives who were present at that casting session,” Pascal’s statement continued. “I’ve long considered Thandie a friend; I’m thankful that I’ve had the chance to make movies with her; and I hope to work with her again in the future.”
USA TODAY has reached out to Pascal’s rep for comment.
In 2015, Pascal exited Sony Pictures after an email hack revealed inappropriate messages, including racist jokes about President Barack Obama’s taste in movies.
“The content of my emails were insensitive and inappropriate but are not an accurate reflection of who I am,” she said in a statement to CNN at the time. “Although this was a private communication that was stolen, I accept full responsibility for what I wrote and apologize to everyone who was offended.”
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Newton also opened up about her experience working with Cruise on “Mission: Impossible 2” and why she was “so scared” of the action star.
“He was a very dominant individual,” said Newton, who noted she wasn’t asked to be in any of the series’ other sequels. “He tries superhard to be a nice person. But the pressure. He takes on a lot. And I think he has this sense that only he can…
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