Clarke Peters, best known for his role in The Wire, has expressed strong views on the current trends in the entertainment industry, particularly around colour-blind casting in historical dramas.
The 72-year-old actor argued that casting decisions in factual dramas should be approached with care, pointing out that it would be “absurd” to cast someone like Dominic West as Ugandan dictator Idi Amin.
Colour-Blind Casting: When It Works and When It Doesn’t
Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, Peters explained his stance on colour-blind casting, especially when it comes to historical figures.
While he acknowledged that colour-blind casting can work in fictional contexts, he believes it is inappropriate when it involves real, historical characters.
“I wouldn’t want to see Dominic West play Idi Amin, for example,” he said, adding that such decisions would be “absurd.”
Peters’ comments are a direct response to the growing trend of diversifying historical dramas, a debate that has intensified with recent productions.
HarperCollins Removes Offensive Language from Agatha Christie Novels
Peters also took aim at HarperCollins for their decision to revise Agatha Christie’s novels, removing language deemed offensive by today’s standards.
The publisher’s decision to edit out references to ethnicity and insulting language in works like Poirot and Miss Marple has sparked controversy.
Clarke Peters voiced his concern, saying that erasing these elements of history is dangerous.
“When you begin erasing history, you wind up where most people in the diaspora from Africa are now; not knowing their history,” he explained.
The Reality of Black Lawyers in Agatha Christie’s World
In the same interview, Peters discussed his upcoming role in a BBC adaptation of Christie’s Towards Zero, where he plays Mr. Treves, a wealthy black solicitor.
Reflecting on the historical accuracy of his role, he stated that while black lawyers certainly existed in Christie’s time, his character would not have fit within Christie’s original narratives.
“She was not a party to those people, and therefore would find it difficult to fit a character like myself into her narrative,” Peters noted.
A Personal Connection to Agatha Christie
While Clarke Peters doesn’t keep crime novels on his bookshelf, his wife Penny is a huge fan of Agatha Christie’s work, making his decision to take on a role in a new Christie adaptation easier.
Peters plays Mr. Treves in a fresh take on Murder Is Easy, a three-part drama that follows a series of mysterious deaths in a quiet village.
Despite his thoughts on the historical accuracy of certain roles, Peters enjoys detective stories, particularly those that offer deeper explorations of the narrative, beyond just the murder.
Debate on Colour-Blind Casting Continues in the UK
Peters’ comments come amid ongoing discussions around the casting of black actors in historical dramas.
The BBC’s adaptation of Hilary Mantel’s The Mirror and the Light, part of the Wolf Hall trilogy, has sparked backlash for casting black actors in key roles.
Some critics argue that the casting of black actors in a Tudor-era drama is inaccurate, while others defend the decision as an attempt to bring diversity and relevance to modern audiences.
The controversy over Wolf Hall is part of a larger conversation that has grown since the success of Bridgerton, Netflix’s Regency-era drama featuring a predominantly black cast.
Some critics argue that such casting choices risk oversimplifying history, while others feel the push for diversity in period dramas is a necessary step forward.
The Future of Colour-Blind Casting in Historical Dramas
While some believe the trend toward diversity in historical shows is “woke” and misguided, director Peter Kosminsky defended the casting choices in Wolf Hall.
He pointed out that the series wasn’t attempting to cast historical lookalikes but rather chose the best actors to capture the essence of the characters.
Kosminsky emphasized that the decisions were made with Mantel’s support, which only adds complexity to the ongoing debate about how we should approach historical accuracy and representation in modern media.
The ongoing debate over colour-blind casting in historical dramas is far from over, with strong arguments on both sides.
For Clarke Peters, it all comes down to being mindful of how history is portrayed and ensuring that the past is remembered in all its complexity, even as we strive to make room for diverse voices in the future.