*Actor Daniel Kaluuya admits that after struggling to land roles in the UK due to his skin color, he made the move to America to find work – and it’s paying off.
The “Queen & Slim” star spoke with The Sunday Times about the racism he faced from white producers back home.
“I was going for a lot of stuff [in England],” the 30-year-old said. “But I wasn’t getting roles because of the colour of my skin. It wasn’t fair. It was a trap.
“For example, I went up for this show. It was 10 rounds of auditions. There was me and a white guy for the lead. It was about aliens. And I realized as I was going to one audition that the other guy had been given an acting coach. They didn’t love me like they loved him.”
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Kaluuya, who grew up in Kentish Town, London, also suggested that he is “confusing” to Americans who are not used to seeing Black British exports.
“There’s Brand Britain, so there’s an awareness that I’m British, but they don’t know me. I’m just seen as privileged because I have an English accent,” he said.
“That story [of coming from an estate] isn’t sold. It isn’t sold internationally. They only sell Downton Abbey. What was being sent abroad was a certain brand of Britain that, maybe, is what Americans want it to be. Then someone goes to London and realizes it’s similar to New York — but that story’s not sold.”
His comments come amid backlash over the all-white nominees for the 2020 BAFTAS.
Kaluuya was previously nominated for Best Actor at the Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTAS and Screen Actors Guild Awards for his performance in “Get Out.”
He’s set to star in a forthcoming untitled movie about murdered civil rights activist Fred Hampton.
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