There is UPROAR!!! Ok, its not a very big one, compared to so many
others currently being uproarious, but it warrants a few exclamation
marks just for sheer stupidity. Because they’ve cast Gal Gadot
(Wonderwoman, and oh, such wonder) to play Cleopatra, The Queen of
Egypt, in a remake of… well, all the other Cleopatra movies made
over the years, except ‘Carry On Cleo’, which was different. Possibly
better. More sophisticated.

Gadot has been accused of ‘stealing’ an ‘Arab’ or ‘black’ role. Well
who from? I want to ask. Elizabeth Taylor??

As when anyone mentions ‘Cleopatra’ to me, the image that springs to
mind is that of Elizabeth Taylor, hair black, deep fringe, kohl eyes,
headdress. I realise that this is imagination appropriation on my part
but I’m just being honest. I have no idea what the real Cleo looked
like and I don’t really care. She was in all likelihood nothing like
as beautiful as Taylor, certainly not the awesome ‘babe’ that is Gal
Gadot. And I say that in the most non-objectifying way possible. Even
if it don’t sound like that.

But on another level its even more stupid. Cleopatra was Greek. From
Macedonia. If she was around today she’d live in Palmers Green, in the
house next to where George Michael grew up. She certainly wasn’t an
‘Arab’ and definitely not ‘black’. She was Southern European/middle
eastern. Which is totally different from being an Israeli. A middle
eastern country in Southern Europe. So I can see their point. Egypt is
in Africa. Just about. Hangs on by the thread of the Suez Canal. So if
they wanted to cast Whoopy Goldberg as Cleo, that’s fine by me. Or
Halle Berry. Even Angelina Jolie, who has played ‘colour’ before (and
that ended really well). But the powers that be chose Gal Gadot. Not
because of cultural similarities, not because of middle-eastern
heritage, not because her ‘colour’ was about right, but because she’s
a fucking actress and its her job to play whoever they ask her to
play. Be that Cleopatra, Michelle Obama or Kim Jong Un.

Basically, LEAVE HER ALONE!!! SHE’S TOO GORGEOUS FOR ALL THIS SHIT.

Happy Friday

A xxxx