Daniel Radcliffe on Hollywood Racism: ‘It’s Pretty Undeniable’

Daniel Radcliffe is speaking out on racism in Hollywood. He recently did an interview for BBC to promote his new movie Imperium, in which he plays an FBI agent who goes undercover to infiltrate a white supremacist group. He and Victoria Derbyshire discussed terrorism, both foreign and domestic, and the problem of racism in the United States came up.

When he was asked whether Hollywood has a problem with racism, Radcliffe was quick to say yes. “I think it’s pretty undeniable,” he said. “We like to think of ourselves as being a very, very progressive industry, but we have been lagging behind in all kinds of areas that have been very well documented.”

The Harry Potter star is trying to be a part of the change. He’s now on the committee of people that chooses Oscar winners, and after complaints that too many nominees and winners are white, he is hoping to make a difference by voting.

Radcliffe also said that the prejudice does not end at skin color. He also said that he feels for gay actors who are afraid to come out of the closer for fear that they’ll be typecast. “I suppose then people just want to cast you as gay,” he said.

[image via screen grab/BBC]

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