Extra claims she was rejected for Hobbit role for looking 'too brown.'
Naz Humphreys, who is 5ft tall, had travelled to Hamilton from Auckland last Tuesday in the hope of securing an extra role on Peter Jackson's forthcoming two-part adaptation of JRR Tolkien's classic fantasy tale. However, according to the Waikato Times, she was told after a three-hour wait that her skin tone made it unlikely she would be cast.
"It's 2010 and I still can't believe I'm being discriminated against because I have brown skin," Ms Humphreys told the Waikato Times. "The casting manager basically said they weren't having anybody who wasn't pale-skinned."
According to the newspaper, a video shows a film company representative telling the crowd: "We are looking for light-skinned people. I'm not trying to be - whatever. It's just the brief. You've got to look like a hobbit."
Apparently, somebody was under the impression that only white people could be hobbits. That's racist! Good to know that the casting agent responsible for the pale-skin hobbit casting call has been fired.
'The Hobbit': Casting agent dismissed after seeking extras with 'light skin tones.'
According to director Peter Jackson's production company, the casting director, who was contracted by the film, was never directed to make any restrictions based on skin color. Basically, he took it upon himself to create an all-white Middle Earth... and got his ass canned. More here: Casting Director Dismissed From 'Hobbit.'
I wonder if that means we'll actually see any non-white actors playing hobbits in The Hobbit. Because I'm not holding my breath.
