Netflix’s new series Queen Cleopatra in controversies, people angry with the black actress playing the role of Queen Cleopatra

The Netflix docudrama series on the life of the Egyptian queen has come under controversy because Cleopatra is portrayed by a black woman in the film. Netflix’s docudrama on the life of Cleopatra, the most famous queen of ancient Egypt, has sparked controversy because of its casting choices – mainly to portray Cleopatra by a black woman.

Controversy Over Netflix Show: Was Queen Cleopatra Black?

netflix docudrama series because of Egyptians are particularly outraged and are complaining about cultural appropriation and the rewriting of their history. Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities also released a lengthy statement saying that “Queen Cleopatra had light skin and Hellenistic (Greek) features,” and that Adele James had “African features and dark skin” according to the ministry. criticized Netflix for casting

The three-part docudrama, produced by Jada Pinkett Smith and starring British actor Adele James of Fraternity as Queen Cleopatra, was released (May 10). Significantly, this is not the first time that there has been a controversy regarding the color of Cleopatra’s skin.

Who was Queen Cleopatra?

Cleopatra VII was the last emperor of the Ptolemaic dynasty, a family of Macedonian-Greek origin, who ruled Egypt from the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC until the country’s conquest and occupation by Octavian (later Emperor Augustus) in 30 BC Was. During her 21-year reign (51–30 BC), Cleopatra is remembered for maintaining Egypt’s autonomy through astute diplomacy and personal charisma amid the ever-growing Roman Empire. He died by suicide thus marking the end of Egyptian civilization as a vibrant living culture. Over the years, Cleopatra has fascinated historians and laymen alike. Her story has been told and retold in popular literature and films, in which Cleopatra is often portrayed as a seductive temptress.

What are critics saying about Netflix’s docudrama?

According to critics, since the film is specifically marketed as a documentary, it should be faithful to the facts. The Egyptian Ministry stated, “The filmmakers must be accurate and based on historical and scientific facts, to ensure that history and civilizations cannot be falsified.” An Egyptian lawyer has filed a formal complaint against the film.Mahmoud al-Semiri, the lawyer who filed the complaint, told CBS News that Our main objection is the falsification of these facts. It’s not about being black or white or yellow. Suppose they wanted to depict Cleopatra as a man, we would object to that as well. Critics have accused Netflix of “blackwashing” – forcefully inserting a black character at the expense of accuracy for “political” reasons.

But what was Cleopatra’s ethnicity?

Various scholars have suggested that Cleopatra was in fact black, with no real evidence backing these claims. According to Duana W. Roller, author of Cleopatra: A Biography, Cleopatra was born in 69 BCE into a dynasty that went back 250 years. His ancestor, Ptolemy I, who founded the dynasty, was Macedonian-Greek and a close companion of Alexander the Great. Cleopatra was eight generations removed from Ptolemy.