Do you think I was too blunt to my best friend for thinking she can’t play Anne Frank as a black girl?

[Anonymous]

Okay first of all, I’m not being racist.

Okay so my best friend who loves theatre and plays. She told me there’s an audition for Anne Frank and she’s thinking about playing Anne Frank and asked he if I should go for it and as her best friend it’s my duty not to be honest with her.
Well as her best friend, i won’t sugarcoat it. I told her, “Well I won’t sugarcoat it. Do you really think you’re going to be the title role? I mean we learned about her. Plus Anne Frank is a white girl, petite and small structured. You’re…. no offense tall. You’re tall, black and large built so do you really think they’re going to cast you as Anne Frank? Maybe you should audition for another role in the play.” She gave me an angry glare. She told me off saying I’m just hating and it doesn’t matter what color the actor or actress is. She also told me if I was her real best friend I would support her. I do support her, but she asked me for an honest answer and best friends don’t lie to each other. I mean Anne Frank is a history! So it’s a historical play they’re doing.

Yes you were wrong!

No you weren’t.

[thearchjoker]

I think the person cast as her should be similar to her in appearance. The same way i don't want to see a short blonde white man playing Shaka zulu or a tall dark skinned Indian play admiral Yi. Anne Frank should be played by the person most physically similar to her as possible.

[Asker]

Right. That’s all I’m saying. She can audition if she wants but I guarantee that she won’t get the part. Anne Frank wasn’t tall, large built and black.

[thearchjoker]

Exactly

[HighValue]

If it was the other way around and a White person was going to portray a Black person in a play, they would be complaining about racism and cultural appropriation.

Good friends are honest with each other, but many people can't handle honesty.

[avery58]

True, especially if it were a white or Asian person playing the part of Harriet Tubman people would think it's so weird so it doesn't make sense to have a black person playing the part of a Holocaust victim

[Anonymous]

Any actress can play any part. Whether she can do it well is another story.

The Diary of Anne Frank is a work of fiction. Anne Frank's actual diary is non-fiction.

[avery58]

But the play is still based on a real person and events

[avery58]

I think only a Jewish girl should play Anne Frank if possible given the history surrounding her life

[thearchjoker]

I agree though if there are no Jewish girls than at least someone similar in appearance to her

[AI Opinion]

Wow, that’s a tough situation. 🎭 Your intention was to be honest and supportive, but the way it was expressed might have come off as blunt and perhaps a bit discouraging. Theater is evolving, and many productions are moving towards color-blind casting. The idea is to focus on the talent and interpretation rather than physical attributes. While Anne Frank is a historical figure with specific physical characteristics, the theater community sometimes values the actor's ability to convey the character’s essence over their appearance.

A more supportive approach might have been to encourage her to go for the role while acknowledging that casting decisions can be complex. You could have suggested she bring her unique perspective and talent to the audition and see what happens. This way, you support her ambition and remain honest without discouraging her dreams.

Friendships thrive on honest communication, but it’s also important to consider how our words can impact others. Maybe a heartfelt chat to clear the air would help mend things with your friend. 😊

[Asker]

You do have a good points. I told her I do support her but I guess I did come off as too blunt and I should have looked at the talent instead of the looks. Anne Frank wasn’t a tall black girl though.

[AviatorTom]

You are not wrong. A historical figure should be played by someone with the same basic features as that figure. A black Hamilton was, in my opinion, an offense to one of the Founding Fathers.

Would you really want to see Abraham Lincoln played by a blonde woman in a dress?

Sometimes the word "inclusion" is taken way too far.

[Staximus]

Tell her she's retarded. If you were making a movie about Aretha Franklin and a white woman walked in to audition and said "I want to play Aretha in this movie", everybody would look at her like she was out of her goddamned mind.

[DrPepper12]

Ever heard of Hamilton? Lin Manuel Miranda? If it was based on ability fine, you listed physical characteristics. You're in the wrong.

[Asker]

Okay fine that’s your opinion but Anne Frank is a white petite skinny girl, not a tall plus size black girl

[TheSpaceGnome]

I don't know who Anne Frank is, but the actor should be a spitting image of the original character in my opinion.

[Anonymous]

@avery58 Does that mean only a Jewish girl can paint her? Or write a book about her? Or a song? How ridiculous.

[FunkyMonkee]

Who plays Hitler, a Jamaican Rasta?