Cleopatra: Gal Gadot Whitewashing Controversy Explained
The upcoming biopic Cleopatra will star Gal Gadot in the title role, though her casting has been a source of controversy, with some describing it as “whitewashing.” This description not only harmfully misunderstands the identity of Wonder Woman Gal Gadot, but also Cleopatra herself. Despite significant evolution in recent years, the film industry is still in need of improvement, as far as diversity and representation go, but the casting of Gal Gadot as Cleopatra is not an example of whitewashing.
The film industry has a long history of casting white actors in non-white roles, which is a symptom of institutional racism that persists to this day. Classic films like Lawrence of Arabia, The Ten Commandments, and Breakfast at Tiffany’s are just a few examples, featuring instances of white actors playing non-white characters, at times quite offensively. More recent examples include Gods of Egypt, The Last Airbender, and Avengers: Age of Ultron, proving that the film industry’s penchant for whitewashing is alive and well.
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The casting of Gal Gadot as Cleopatra in the upcoming movie caused controversy once it was announced, with many feeling it’s the latest example of the film industry’s whitewashing problem and that a Middle Eastern actress would be a more suitable choice for the role of the Egyptian Queen. Historically, however, Cleopatra was a Greek woman of white Macedonian ancestry (as were all the Ptolemy rulers) whose reign preceded the Arab invasions of Egypt. Furthermore, Gal Gadot is an Israeli actress of Ashkenazi ancestry, making the claims of “whitewashing” a harmful example of misunderstanding and erasing her Jewish identity.
Cleopatra reigned as the
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