Netflix popular series 'Bridgerton' actor Adjoa Andoh rekindled controversy over the race of her character, Queen Charlotte.
On the 9th (local time), according to a report by the Daily Mail, Andoh, who plays Lady Danbury in the series, claimed in a recent interview that "Queen Charlotte was not fictionalized as a person of color; she was in fact a person of color." She added that "it is a fact you can know with just a little historical research," showing strong conviction.
Andoh emphasized that 'Bridgerton' offers viewers "a more realistic version of history." But historians and some members of the public disagree. Tracing the lineage of Queen Charlotte, who was born in Germany, reveals one Moorish ancestor, but that occurred a full 500 years before the era in which she lived.
A fan pointed out, "The probability that I have a Black ancestor is much higher than that, but that doesn't make me a person of color," and added, "If this is truly a realistic historical portrayal, it should also include the Atlantic slave trade," criticizing, "the real Queen Charlotte was not an abolitionist."
This is not the first time Andoh has faced criticism over race-related remarks. During the coronation of King Charles III in 2023, she reportedly said the royal family on the Buckingham Palace balcony looked "terribly white," drawing more than 8,000 complaints.
At the time, she explained she was shocked by the contrast between the rich diversity inside Westminster Abbey and the appearance of the royal balcony, but the remark sparked intense debate within British society.
'Bridgerton' is set in a regency era in which "racial integration" occurs based on the premise that Queen Charlotte was Black. This contributed to building the drama's distinctive world, but it still walks a fine line between "artistic license" and "historical distortion" in its treatment of real figures.<
[Photo] Netflix
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