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Adjoa Andoh has claimed that she called out Bridgerton bosses for failing to light black actors properly, after becoming a household name as a star of the Netflix show.
The actor, 61, who has played Lady Danbury since 2020, said that despite the show’s huge success, it has done ‘nothing’ to help the way black actors are treated.
The actress revealed that even on Bridgerton, which has been praised for its diverse casting, black actors, including herself were not being lit correctly during scenes.
On the Stirring It Up podcast on Thursday, she explained that it was a problem across sets but admitted that she finds having to tackle it exhausting.
Despite her frustration, Adjoa conceded that things were getting better, but that she shouldn’t have to fight it and wished she could simply ‘come and do her work’.
Adjoa Andoh has claimed that she called out Bridgerton bosses for failing to light black actors properly, after becoming a household name as a star of the Netflix show (pictured in 2023)
The actor who has played Lady Danbury (pictured) since 2020, said that despite the show’s huge success, it has done ‘nothing’ to help the way black actors are treated
The actress revealed that even on Bridgerton, which has been praised for its diverse casting , black actors, including herself were not being lit correctly during scenes (pictured last month)
The actress was discussing her career and racism with Miquita Oliver and her mother Andi on an episode of their hit show.
Adjoa, who has worked in theatre as well as television and film, said she did not feel powerful in her career because of the racism she experienced.
She said: ‘No. The continuing conversation about lighting black skin on every show. Nothing’s changed. They’re getting better, so I suppose I feel powerful in that I will now go, ”Am I blonde?”.
‘But I hate doing it because a bit of me is like, ”Oh, I don’t want to do it, I don’t want to make a fuss”. I don’t want to because I want to come and do my work.
‘I don’t want to have to walk onto set [and raise an issue]. I want to be Lady Danbury and be totally engaged in that.
‘When people say we’re being chippy or militant I want to say that I’m just a human being and I just want to do the gift I’m blessed with and I want to do it in a free way.
‘I’m not asking for a special revelation, I just want to live in my gift.’ she added.
The actress described the constant battle with production teams as ‘very tiring and very distracting’, adding that ‘that’s not my sh*t – I don’t want to think about it.’
Adjoa told hosts Miquita Oliver and her mother Andi that she didn’t want to have to always raise an issue, saying: ‘I want to be Lady Danbury and be totally engaged in that.’
Adjoa revealed on the podcast that she had worked closely with Bridgerton creator Shonda Rhimes to flesh out the backstory of Lady Danury, adding in details about her West African heritage.
The star also worked with a costume designer and created jewellery for the hit third season which included West African symbols.
These included an adrinka symbol which means farewell or goodbye, the sankofa bird with its head curved back on itself, representing ‘going back and remembering your origin’ and the gye nyame symbol which Adjoa explained means accepting God and fearing nothing.
Adjoa told Miquita and Andi that she thought it was important to include the symbols, which were incorporated into her character’s jewellery and costumes, ‘because that’s real’.
She described Shonda as ‘smart and open’ to her ideas and said her family were proud to see the small details in the latest series.
This is not the first time the star has spoken out about racism.
The Invictus actress revealed last year how racism had blighted her life – from having her head smashed against walls at infant school to being barred from friends’ houses and potential boyfriends.
At secondary school she said she even became a punk because boys were scared to go out with her for fear of getting in trouble with their parents.
Netflix have been approached for comment.