A Hollywood studio executive once suggested that Julia Roberts should play the role of Harriet Tubman in a biopic about the famous abolitionist. The shocking revelation was made by screenwriter Gregory Allen Howard in an interview with Focus Features. Howard shared that when he first began working on the project over 25 years ago, an executive at a Hollywood studio advised him to cast Roberts in the lead role. The reason behind this suggestion was apparently because Tubman’s story would be more marketable with a white actress in the lead.
Howard was initially dumbfounded by the executive’s suggestion, but recognized that this mindset was prevalent in Hollywood. He went on to explain that the film industry historically has not been willing to greenlight projects with black leads, but things have gradually been changing.
Fortunately, Howard did not entertain the executive’s suggestion, stating that it was just absurd. He believed that Tubman’s story deserved to be told by someone who understood her experience, and it would have been a disservice to cast a white actress in the role.
The biopic “Harriet” was eventually made with Cynthia Erivo portraying the iconic abolitionist, and the film received critical acclaim. Erivo’s powerful performance was praised, and she was nominated for several awards, including an Academy Award for Best Actress. The incident with the Hollywood executive serves as a reminder of the lack of diversity and representation in the film industry, and the progress that still needs to be made.