This stirred up a lot for me in a time when I’m already pretty stirred. It’s disgusting. It’s sad. And yet not a surprising or unique experiece of the white supremacy and bigotry that pervades our country and industry at all. http://variety.com/2020/film/news/winona-ryder-mel-gibson-oven-dodger-1234646288/amp/

On multiple occasions I’ve had people — both in the industry and not — be surprised to learn that I’m Jewish. They usually react with “Oh! Wow. You don’t really LOOK Jewish.”

And when I offer no response and let the statement linger they continue with some kind of defensive qualifier like “I mean that in a GOOD way!”

As if “looking Jewish” — whatever that means to them — is something I should want to avoid. This makes me sick.

I can’t even tell you the amount of times I received audition feedback solely based on my appearance: “too ethnic” “just want someone more “American” looking” “we ideally want a blonde with blue eyes, someone that just looks nicer“..... etc.

And this is my experience as a WHITE woman. I can only imagine the impossible hurdles of getting a job as a person of color in this industry. Have I even felt 1/1000th of the intolerance, bigotry and pain that POC are routinely subjected to? I don’t know.

I know it’s not helpful to compare. It’s only helpful to find deep deep empathy and love and call out intolerance where we see it — both in ourselves, others, systems, the world. It’s painful and scary. It’s a lifelong commitment and journey. I am and will continue to be an ally.