Hell hath no fury like Twitter scorned.
Following reports Lady Gaga and Angelina Jolie were possible contenders to play iconic Egyptian pharaoh Cleopatra in the upcoming 1963 remake, what started as a simple casting rumour quickly erupted into a heated Twitter debate.
Since major leading roles in Hollywood are still few and far between for women, landing a character like Cleopatra would be the role of a lifetime for many actresses.
While many Twitter users noted respect and admiration for the acting work of Jolie and Gaga, the question was raised – should a white woman be cast as the ancient ruler?
Historically, white actresses such as Claudette Colbert, Vivien Leigh, and most famously, Elizabeth Taylor, have portrayed Cleopatra. But, in a time when Hollywood is more conscious than ever – is it time a woman of colour to portray the icon?
White-washing has been, and remains to be, a major issue in Hollywood.
So much so, the 2019 Golden Globes saw Emma Stone apologise in the crowd for her role in Aloha. Emma played the leading character, portraying Allison Ng, who is of Hawaiian and Chinese descent.
Scarlett Johannsson was also accused of white-washing following her appearance in Ghost in the Shell, which was a remake of a Japanese anime film.
RELATED: Emma Stone Apologises For Her Role In ‘Aloha’
The argument of Cleopatra’s ethnicity has long been debated, even before Twitter decided to get involved.
While the Egyptian pharaoh was described as ethnically Greek by historians in the past, the assumption was called into question within the past decade.
In 2009, archaeologists found remains believed to be Princess Arsinoe, Cleopatra’s sister in Ephesus, Turkey. Researchers believed the remains pointed to an African mother.
Who does Twitter want to play the enviable role, you ask? Lupita Nyong’o and Jameela Jamil were among their top picks.
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