Gabrielle Union felt like her “beauty wasn’t wanted” in Hollywood.
Gabrielle Union felt like her ‘beauty wasn’t wanted’ in Hollywood
The actress, renowned for refusing to shy away from uncomfortable subjects, opens up about being a black actress in the new documentary ‘Number One on the Call Sheet’, and addresses a major issue that has long plagued stars of colour in Tinseltown – the unrealistic and unfair beauty standards they are often held to.
Gabrielle, 52, discussed her experiences in the show alongside other prominent black stars, including Angela Bassett, Halle Berry and Viola Davis, in the documentary’s second episode – ‘Black Leading Women in Hollywood’.
Directed by Shola Lynch, the episode delves into the barriers that have made it difficult for black actresses to secure leading roles.
It sees Gabrielle speak candidly about how black women with “coarse hair, melanin, thicker nose, wider nose, wider lips” are often excluded from the narrow definition of beauty in Hollywood.
She added about her battle with reaching stardom in Hollywood: “I started feeling invisible, like my beauty wasn’t wanted.
“As a romantic lead? No.”
Despite being widely regarded as one of Hollywood’s most beautiful stars, Gabrielle says her talent didn’t provide the same career opportunities her white contemporaries such as Amy Adams, Jennifer Garner and Gwyneth Paltrow, especially at the start of her career.
She added: “My look was appealing enough. But not so overpowering that it overshadows the white lead.” Her early roles, such as in the 1999 teen rom-com ‘She’s All That’, were often relegated to sidekick or supporting parts.
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