Africans and the black race, in general, have traditionally had very inadequate and unflattering representation in media and film some years past.
Recently, it was announced that 19-year-old singer and actor Halle Bailey, one half of the soul and RnB duo Halle X Chloe has been cast in the iconic role of Ariel in the upcoming live-action remake of the 1989 animated Disney film ‘The little mermaid’, which will make her Disney’s second princess of colour.
There were controversies around her casting which started after some groups accused of being racist demanded her removal from the role for not having red hair.
Disney and many fans of Halle Bailey have condemned the racist comments about her role.
Like Halle, there have been actors who played roles originally scripted for white actors. In most of these cases, the casting directors focused on the abilities of the actors and not their skin colours but yet still, some courted controversies. Here is a list of nine of such actors: