Someone here may have a more complete knowledge of the subtleties, but my understanding is that it's legit for a casting notice to say that the actor has to appear physically to be a specific ethnicity, but it's a gray area whether the production can legitimately say the successful applicant must BE that ethnicity. It's not clear whether Hamilton can legally tell an actor that he won't be considered for Jefferson because the actor is white, if the actor's physical appearance is such that an audience would believe the actor to be a POC.
It's also complicated by how the actor self-identifies in terms of ethnicity. You could have two siblings, and one identifies as white and the other identifies as a POC.
I don't think any actor has ever brought a legal case on this issue, so I don't think there's ever been a ruling on this. But someone here might know more. |
