Three major films choosing not to cast Jews in starring roles, and the Academyโs silence on the omission of the ethnoreligious group from its diversity initiative, signals a troubling moment.
...That Nolan wrote a film about one of the most famous Jewish scientists to ever live without at least considering a Jewish actor for the role is emblematic of a problem that continues to pervade the entertainment industry, one that has rightly pushed for increased diversity, equity and inclusion and advocated on behalf of every ethnicity and race โ except for Jews.
"...Anytime there's a character โ and I don't even talk about historical impact, just a powerful character โ it's never played by a Jewish person,โ says [Jonah] Platt. โAnd I feel like that comes from this aversion to Jews being powerful.โ
...When non-Jews are cast as Jews, the performances tend to fall back on hackneyed caricature and cliches. Think: loud, exaggerated personalities with Brooklyn accents and enunciated hand gestures. See: Rachel Brosnahan in The Marvelous Mrs. Maiselย or Wendi McLendon-Covey in The Goldbergs.ย In Maestroย and Golda, both Cooper and Mirren wear prosthetic noses.