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Reflecting on her starring role as Cinderella, Brandy said, "I hear to this day, 'I believe I can be a princess now because of you.'"
She added, "I knew that this was so great for the world to see, especially Black people. She represented a culture that is beautiful, and I just so appreciated that because that was so much a part of what I wanted to bring to Cinderella." Debra Martin Chase, who executive produced the movie alongside Whitney Houston, said Whitney knew how important this casting would be for future generations, recalling, "[Whitney] totally understood the value and the importance, the significance of having a Black Cinderella."
He continued, saying, "I'm still a kid, you know, there's a kid in each one of us and so I just know what it's going to mean to you when you see it that it can give you a certain type of confidence when you walk through the world. It also makes people that look like you see you in a different light and not judge you in a particular way."
"Now is one of the first times we're getting really good Black roles for Black women that are leading roles, and projects where Black women are at the helm and Black people are at the helm. I think that’s really exhilarating, and I feel lucky to come of age at a time when that’s really happening," Amandla added.
Ncuti does feel the weight of the legacy of Doctor Who as well, adding, "And yet, there is a 60-year-long legacy to honor, and 14 other actors that have come before, and a writer [returning showrunner Russell T Davies] that knows the show like nobody else. There's a high bar to clear, a lot of weight to carry. But it's fun to do so."
In 2014, when her casting was announced, Viola called out people trying to compare her to Kerry Washington, saying, "There is no one who would compare Glenn Close to Julianna Margulies, Zooey Deschanel to Lena Dunham. They just wouldn’t. They do that with me and Kerry because we're both African Americans and we’re both in Shonda Rhimes shows. But they wouldn’t compare me to Ellen Pompeo. Because Ellen Pompeo is white."
She continued, saying, "Just the fact that I came into the Grey's Anatomy audition at all because I wasn't 'ingénue.' I didn’t have whatever that look was, and casting always likes to give you a type." Chandra is now one of only two original cast members that is still a series regular on the show, alongside James Pickens Jr. as Dr. Richard Webber.
Around the same time of initial online criticism, Percy Jackson author Rick Riordan penned a note on his website titled "Leah Jeffries is Annabeth Chase." He wrote, "The response to the casting of Leah has been overwhelmingly positive and joyous, as it should be. Leah brings so much energy and enthusiasm to this role, so much of Annabeth’s strength. She will be a role model for new generations of girls who will see in her the kind of hero they want to be."
She continued, saying, "There's no reason that they shouldn't be. That reassurance was something that I needed." Following the release of The Little Mermaid, several viral videos of young Black girls reacting to Halle's version of Ariel, showed firsthand how important her casting is.
Brian continued, telling BuzzFeed, "It's been incredible knowing the impact on people who are trans like me, and for people who have always felt like an outsider. They get to see me play a character who has a full life and is successful. It's just a compounding force of positivity that I'm glad I can bring."
Especially in the later seasons, Candice was very vocal about the racist backlash she experienced following her casting as Iris. She even considered leaving the series after two seasons, but ultimately stayed because she felt a responsibility to the fans she represented. She said, "It's getting easier, we're talking about it a lot more. But I had to learn a lot through trial and error, and I'm really proud of myself, of what I was able to accomplish, and how I was able to advocate for myself while I was there."
He continued, saying, "I feel like sometimes we have to perform our queerness, because I think that's what keeps us the safest. It keeps you safe when you're entertaining someone. Damian is like, 'I am me. I happen to be queer. I happen to be plus-size. But none of this is for your entertainment. This is for my entertainment. You're in my show.'"
Rutina continued, saying, "Sometimes you can do an adaptation of something and it's a copy of a copy. Sometimes it's not so great. But I felt here with The Last of Us, they really have had a chance to fly with these storylines, even if they altered them a bit, because it's human people." Speaking about what initially drew her to the role of Maria, she said she loved how "fierce" she is and that she's "a born leader."
Like others, Jacob's casting was met with some criticism by fans of Anne Rice's original novel, however Jacob's brilliant performance has proven a lot of people wrong. Speaking more in depth about the importance of his casting, Jacob said, "No amount of magic can save him from a racist American, racist America, a racist society. He’s powerless in that way. He can’t operate with impunity just because he’s a vampire because he’s a Black vampire."
Ewan McGregor also defended Moses, saying in a video posted to Twitter, "Moses is a brilliant actor, she’s a brilliant woman, and she’s absolutely amazing in this series…I just want to say as the leading actor in the series, as the executive producer on the series, that we stand with Moses. We love Moses, and if you’re sending her bullying messages, you’re no Star Wars fan in my mind. There’s no place for racism in this world."