Black Actresses Who Sabotaged Darker-Skinned Co-Stars

Discussions about colorism in Hollywood reveal a pattern where actresses with lighter skin tones are often cast in roles that were initially intended for, or traditionally played by, women with darker complexions. This preference can lead to the underrepresentation of talented dark-skinned actresses and restrict their chances for recognition. Many believe that when lighter-skinned actresses take on these roles, they contribute to a cycle that harms the careers and visibility of their darker-skinned colleagues. The following examples showcase instances where casting decisions involving well-known actresses have fueled significant conversations about fair representation and opportunity.

Zoe Saldaña

Zoe Saldana received strong criticism for playing Nina Simone in the 2016 biopic ‘Nina’. She used makeup to darken her skin, which many people compared to the outdated and offensive practice of minstrelsy. Critics argued that the role should have gone to a darker-skinned actress who naturally resembled Simone, especially considering Simone’s advocacy for Black beauty. Saldana later said she regretted taking the part and realized another actress would have been a better fit.

Alexandra Shipp

As a huge X-Men fan, I remember being really disappointed when Teyonah Parris was cast as Storm in ‘Apocalypse’. Storm has always been written as a powerfully dark-skinned African woman in the comics, and it felt like a real erasure of that identity to see a lighter-skinned actress in the role. There was a lot of discussion – and honestly, a lot of anger – about how it reinforced the idea that even in superhero movies, darker skin tones aren’t considered the standard. Parris defended her casting, but it just seemed to add fuel to the fire. It really brought to light how often studios seem to shy away from fully representing Black characters with the richness and depth their skin tone deserves, opting for lighter complexions instead.

Amandla Stenberg

Amandla Stenberg played Starr Carter in the 2018 movie ‘The Hate U Give’, a role initially visualized with a dark-skinned girl on the book cover. Some people criticized the casting, arguing that Hollywood often chooses lighter-skinned actresses for leading roles in stories about Black people, which limits opportunities for darker-skinned actresses. Stenberg understood these concerns and admitted they benefited from privilege when getting the part. Later, they turned down a role in ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ to make sure a darker-skinned actress could have the opportunity instead.

Thandiwe Newton

Naomi Newton has spoken candidly about how her fair skin and mixed background have given her advantages that actresses with darker skin haven’t had, both in the UK and the US. She received some criticism for her part in the 2022 film ‘God’s Country,’ which focused on race, and she admitted that her casting might take opportunities away from darker-skinned actresses. In a heartfelt interview, she apologized to those actresses for being chosen for roles that they felt should have gone to them. Her comments highlighted a common issue in the entertainment industry: the tendency to feature lighter-skinned actresses as the primary representation of Black stories.

Zazie Beetz

Jurnee Smollett was cast as Stagecoach Mary in the 2021 western film ‘The Harder They Fall’, playing a real historical figure known for being a dark-skinned, larger woman. This casting choice received criticism because it didn’t reflect Mary Fields’ actual appearance, instead opting for a more conventional Hollywood look. Some argued this missed an opportunity to showcase a dark-skinned actress in a prominent action role. Smollett responded by saying she aimed to capture the essence of the character, but the difference in appearance remained a point of debate.

Zendaya

As a movie lover, I’ve been consistently impressed by Zendaya – she’s become a huge star with roles in things like ‘Spider-Man’ and the powerful series ‘Euphoria.’ But she’s also been really open about the fact that she often feels like Hollywood’s idea of an ‘acceptable’ Black actress, and she worries about taking roles that could have gone to darker-skinned women. It’s not that she’s intentionally trying to hold anyone back, but her being cast so often in these roles unfortunately limits opportunities for other Black actresses. She’s said she wants to use her position to help others, which is great, but the fact that she consistently lands these leading roles is still something people in the industry are talking about.

Tessa Thompson

Tessa Thompson has sparked discussion about representation with her roles in projects like ‘Passing’ and ‘Thor: Ragnarok’. In ‘Passing’, some felt her skin tone wasn’t light enough to convincingly portray a woman pretending to be white, while others criticized the casting, arguing it took opportunities away from darker-skinned actresses. Though she played a reimagined, non-white Valkyrie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, debates continued about why a darker-skinned actress wasn’t chosen. Thompson often finds herself at the center of these conversations about colorism, and while she participates in them, she also benefits from the industry’s tendency to favor lighter-skinned actors. This can limit opportunities for actresses with a wider range of Black skin tones in science fiction and fantasy genres.

Yara Shahidi

Yara Shahidi’s role as Tinkerbell in the 2023 film ‘Peter Pan & Wendy’ unfortunately drew racist criticism, but also prompted important discussions about colorism within the Black community. Many pointed out that when films change a character’s race, they often cast actresses with lighter skin or mixed heritage, missing an opportunity to provide meaningful representation for darker-skinned actresses in fantasy roles. This pattern continued with Shahidi’s casting in ‘The Sun Is Also a Star’ (2019), where she played a character originally described with darker features. These decisions consistently suggest that lighter skin is favored as the acceptable alternative to white representation.

Halle Berry

Halle Berry’s historic Oscar win as the first Black woman to receive the Best Actress award came with a complex legacy. In the early 2000s, she frequently found herself as the sole Black woman on set. Her role in ‘Monster’s Ball’ (2001) unfortunately set a pattern where tragic, yet attractive, Black female characters were expected to fit a specific, lighter-skinned appearance. Despite Berry’s efforts to pave the way, the industry used her success to justify a lack of diversity, often overlooking darker-skinned actresses for roles portraying sex symbols or action heroes. Her portrayal of ‘Catwoman’ (2004) reinforced the studio belief that Black female leads in action films needed to have lighter skin tones.

Paula Patton

Zoe Saldana often plays characters, like Garona in ‘Warcraft’ (2016) and in ‘Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol’ (2011), that require her to appear racially ambiguous. While she’s frequently cast as the ‘exotic’ female lead, this pattern suggests that Hollywood believes black actresses need a certain look to attract international audiences. This preference for actresses with ambiguous features limits opportunities for darker-skinned black actresses trying to break into action films.

Rashida Jones

Kenya Barris’s series ‘#BlackAF’ (2020), which she starred in and produced, faced criticism for its casting choices. Many viewers felt the show’s focus on lighter-skinned and mixed-race actors to portray a Black family overlooked the experiences of darker-skinned individuals within those families. Critics suggested Barris prioritized stories reflecting her own background and appearance, which undermined the representation of a wider range of Black experiences. This sparked a conversation about the importance of Black creators being mindful of colorism when choosing their casts.

Alicia Keys

Alicia Keys appeared in the 2008 film ‘The Secret Life of Bees’ with Queen Latifah and Jennifer Hudson, but some of her other roles have caused controversy. Because she is biracial and has light skin, her being cast in roles traditionally meant for Black actresses raises questions about who gets to portray those characters and whether it feels genuine. This is particularly common in music biopics, where lighter-skinned actresses are often chosen to play iconic singers with darker complexions – a pattern Keys’ work sometimes reinforces. Ultimately, her presence in films can contribute to a narrow representation of Black beauty in Hollywood.

Rosario Dawson

I was really excited to see Rosario Dawson as Ahsoka Tano in the new ‘Star Wars’ series. It’s a great role, and Ahsoka is this amazing orange-skinned alien who feels like a woman of color. But honestly, it’s a little frustrating to see that even in sci-fi, they often cast lighter-skinned actresses for these big alien roles. I remember seeing her in ‘Rent’ years ago, and even then, she played a character who, while diverse, still leaned towards a lighter complexion. It just seems like a pattern in the industry where darker-skinned actresses get overlooked, even when the characters aren’t supposed to be human. It’s disappointing to see that happen again and again.

Jennifer Beals

Jennifer Beals played Bette Porter on ‘The L Word’ (2004–2009), a biracial character whose story frequently touched on her racial background. However, because Beals herself is very light-skinned, the show presented Blackness in a way that was more comfortable for white viewers, often overlooking the experiences of women with darker skin tones. This casting choice allowed the show to appear diverse without actually changing traditional beauty standards. It contributed to a trend in television where leading Black actresses were typically those with lighter complexions.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex

Before becoming a princess, Meghan Markle was known for her role as Rachel Zane on the TV show ‘Suits’ (2011–2018). Her character was the main love interest, which was unusual for a Black woman with darker skin on mainstream television at the time. Some argue her casting played into a trend of casting actors who appear racially ambiguous, allowing networks to show diversity without actually hiring darker-skinned actresses. This practice is often seen as a way to limit opportunities for Black women in leading romantic roles.

Tracee Ellis Ross

Tracee Ellis Ross played Rainbow Johnson on the sitcom ‘Black-ish’ (2014–2022), which often explored issues of race and even addressed colorism in one episode. Despite aiming to critique color hierarchies, the show faced criticism for casting the Johnson children and featuring a light-skinned mother. Some argued that the lack of darker-skinned women within the immediate family undermined the show’s portrayal of a typical Black American family, and that the casting choices reinforced traditional standards of beauty often seen on television.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw

Gugu Mbatha-Raw received praise for her performance in the historical film ‘Belle’ (2013), where she played a woman of mixed racial heritage. Since then, her work in science fiction and fantasy has often been in roles that don’t explicitly require a specific race, or that focus on her being Black. Her appearances in films like ‘The Cloverfield Paradox’ (2018) and the series ‘Loki’ (2021) reflect a pattern of studios choosing biracial actresses for leading roles in these genres. This trend unfortunately limits opportunities for actresses with darker skin tones to secure similar high-profile sci-fi roles.

Laura Harrier

I was really excited to see Liz Allan in ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ played by Zendaya – it was cool to see a classic character reimagined as a woman of color! But honestly, it also felt a little disappointing. While it was a step towards diversity, Zendaya is light-skinned and biracial, and it seemed like the MCU was still falling into the same old pattern of choosing actors based on colorism. It felt like a missed opportunity to show a dark-skinned girl as the main love interest in a big teen movie. Zendaya’s talked about understanding her own privilege since then, which is great, but sadly, this kind of casting still happens a lot.

Vanessa Williams

Vanessa Williams gained prominence in the 1997 film ‘Soul Food,’ playing a successful, fair-skinned sister who frequently clashed with her family. Beyond the film’s exploration of colorism, Williams’ history as the first Black Miss America is often brought up when discussing the issue. While she opened doors for Black actresses, her success particularly benefited those who aligned with traditional Eurocentric beauty standards. This has unfortunately led to a tendency for producers to seek actresses who resemble Williams, rather than embracing a broader definition of Black beauty.

Lisa Bonet

Lisa Bonet became a well-known figure thanks to her role as Denise Huxtable on ‘The Cosby Show’ (1984–1992) and ‘A Different World’. Her character became the standard for a certain type of Black woman – a free-spirited, artistic type – but this image became strongly linked to women with lighter skin tones. This made it harder for actresses with darker skin to be cast in similar, unconventional roles, as casting directors repeatedly sought someone who resembled Bonet for decades. Ultimately, her popularity created a bias in casting, associating light skin with a particular kind of appealing and unconventional femininity.

Let us know what you think about the recent debates over casting choices and how colorism affects the film industry in the comments below.

2025-12-01 21:52