Nia Long: ‘Charlie’s Angels’ Producers Passed on Me Because I Was ‘Too Black & Too Old’

Days after Thandie Newton took to press to slam the creators of the 2000 movie reboot of ‘Charlie’s Angels’ (as we reported here), fellow actress Nia Long co-signed her comments by recounting her racially-charged history with the female-empowerment film.

Hot on the promo trailer for her recently released Netflix flick ‘Fatal Affair’ (click here to see the trailer), Long took to Insider to recall trying out for the role of “Alex” in ‘Charlie’s Angels’ but says casting agents and producers passed on her because she was ‘too Black’ and ‘too old.’

What’s worse, the role was eventually given to Lucy Liu who is two years Long’s senior.

“The feedback that I received from my agent was, ‘[I] just looked too old and sophisticated to be next to Drew,'” Long claimed in a new interview with Insider.

Continuing, Long said:

“I love Drew Barrymore, I think she’s amazing, but I think that was just a nice way to say you’re a little too Black. Personally, that’s what I think. Because if you notice there were no brown skin [actors]. I mean, honestly, I would have been the blackest thing in the film.”

In the same interview, Long later said the decision shouldn’t have been solely by her appearance at the audition as it’s “a director’s vision to help create and curate a character” and see past “the fact I had on a blazer and a pair of jeans.”

Concluding, she stated:

“…that was clearly not the job and opportunity for me. So, no problem, I’ll keep it moving.”

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The sentiment expressed echoes Newton’s who said it was the producer’s intent to objectify her Blackness in the film. Amy Pascal, the film’s producer, says she has no recollection of Newton’s claims.

[main photo source: Getty Images]