Actor Helen Mirren will play Israel's former prime minister Golda Meir in the late-Jewish leader's upcoming biopic, sparking controversy over the fact that Mirren is not Jewish.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
In the film Golda, Mirren, whose iconic role in The Queen remains unmatched, will be unrecognizable in playing Meir, who was the first woman to head Israel's government.
Some in the Jewish community voiced disapproval over the film's casting of Meir, in a contentious issue that comes amid a cultural revolution in the fair representation of minorities in Hollywood.
"There are people who feel that just as white people shouldn't play black people in films … that transexual roles should be played by genuine transexuals, so do they believe Jews should only be played by Jewish actors," i24NEWS correspondent Jonathan Sacerdoti said.
Jewish actor Maureen Lipman said Mirren should not have been asked to play the role because "the Jewishness of Meir's character is so integral."
"[Lipman] thinks there is something specifically Jewish about Golda Meir that requires a Jew to play here," Sacerdoti said.
However, others in the Jewish community defended the Academy Award winner.
Celebrated Jewish writer and director Patrick Marber said that he dislikes the idea of so-called "lived experience" because it contradicts the "very nature of what it means to be an actor," Sacerdoti explained.
I'm Jewish and I think this is ridiculous. It's called ACTING. There aren't many actresses in their 70s of *any* religion who could get a movie like this financed. It's wonderful that Mirren made this movie possible and I'm sure she will do a terrific job. https://t.co/wSwl0gaqD1
— Scott Feinberg (@ScottFeinberg) January 14, 2022
He suggested that the complaints stem from the idea that Jewish people feel like they "don't count" when racism is being targeted.
"If there are debates about black parts being played by non-black actors, or gay parts being played by non-gay actors, then why shouldn't the same logic be extended to Jews?"
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
"But perhaps they are overextending it," Sacerdoti said. "In reality, perhaps these things aren't always necessary for all minorities."
This article was first published by i24NEWS.
