‘HAVE AT IT, MAN’

Black British ‘Homeland’ Actor Clarifies Blackface Comments

David Harewood initially said actors should be able to play any character, even in blackface, as long as it’s “good.”

Black British actor David Harewood shared an interesting perspective about blackface and acting this week in a new interview with The Guardian. The Homeland star told the newspaper, “We’re at this strange point in the profession where people go: ‘Oh, you can’t play that role because you’re not disabled, or you can’t play that because you’re not really from there.’” That doesn’t sit quite right with him, he said. “The name of the game is acting,” he continued. “Yes, we’ve got to be representative, but I do think we have to be careful.” Harewood, who was recently named president of the U.K.’s most prestigious drama school, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, added that he doesn’t draw the line at “Othello in blackface,” either: “I say, if you want to black up, have at it, man. It’d better be fucking good, or else you’re gonna get laughed off the stage,” he said. “But knock yourself out! Anybody should be able to do anything.” He later clarified his statements via Variety, saying “I don’t support or condone Blackface. My own documentary on the subject can be found on the BBC website. It is a grotesque distortion of race and should always be condemned.”

Editor’s Note: Actor David Harewood clarified his earlier comments about blackface after initial publication.