Ethnic People starring in films that takes place in 1600's?

Question

My adopted sister wants to be an actress and she always been fascinated by films that takes place in 1600's or 1800's or those other older days, especially the shakespeare films. And someday she wishes that she could be in those kinds of films, but she's afraid that she wont because she's hispanic, she has dark skin, curly dark hair, she looks 100% latina. and there weren't any hispanic people in those days. but is there makeup that will make her look caucasian or something?

Answer 1

Hispanic people weren't "invented" recently, you know. They were certainly around in the 1600s/1800s.

Don't feed her fears that she needs to look lighter, just encourage her to work on her acting skills. Historical/costume dramas are always going to be popular, and there are thousands that haven't even been written yet. There is endless potential for stories from the colonization of the Americas, if she's interested in doing a period piece, and they'll need actresses for those stories that don't look Nordic and blonde.

There's also no reason a latina actress couldn't do Shakespeare. She just has to be good. Put her in fine linen robes, a straight black wig, and Egyptian-style eye make-up, and boom, she's Cleopatra. That's the lead.

Answer 2

1-the second greatest power in the world of 1600 was Spain.
2. todays casting directors are ethnick blind.
3. actors do not get their choice of roles until they are big stars, beginners and new to the profession actors have to take what they can get, which are very small parts in whatever their agents can find for them.

I was proud to be a student of and friend of Fredrick O'Neal, the late African American president of Actor's Equity. He told us that when he decided to be an actor, his father said to him that if he failed he could not blame his race, it would only be that he was not good enough. That is even more true today than ever before. No one can blame their race for their failure to succeed in America. If a person is good enough at what they do, they will succeed, if they are not good enough, they will fail. NO on'es fault but their own.

Answer 3

Maybe but I highly doubt it. Unless shes works with a liberal director who is willing to have different types of characters portray people.

Denzel Washington did play Don Pedro of Aragon in the film, Much Ado about Nothing, which is a story written by Shakespeare.

Here is the link to the site about the film- http://imdb.com/title/tt0107616/

But mainly if she really loves acting then she should never give up, regardless of race.

Good luck, hope it turns out for the best.

Answer 4

I doubt it because usually the casting directors are caucasian and will not cast anyone of color even with makeup because of not being in that specific place in time. sucks but is true.