--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know some black actresses who have to…" description: "\"I know some black actresses who have to wait every 19 films for a role. I can be cast in practically every one as a young white male.\" — D. B. Sweeney" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/d-b-sweeney-8233_black_i-know-some-black-actresses-who-have-to_1852491.jpg" --- # I know some black actresses who have to wait every 19… ![“I know some black actresses who have to wait every 19 films for a role. I can be cast in practically every one as a young white male.” quote by D. B. Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/d-b-sweeney-8233_black_i-know-some-black-actresses-who-have-to_1852491.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/d-b-sweeney-8233_black_i-know-some-black-actresses-who-have-to_1852491.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/d-b-sweeney-8233_black_i-know-some-black-actresses-who-have-to_1852491.jpg) > “I know some black actresses who have to wait every 19 films for a role. I can be cast in practically every one as a young white male.” [D. B. Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-sweeney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Systemic bias limits opportunities for black actresses while favoring white males. **In simple terms:** Racial bias in casting. Key Takeaway Address casting inequity. Themes inequality representation industry bias Mood reflective determined Type social activist When to use this quote - film casting - career advancement - industry reform Key Concepts systemic racism opportunity gap diversity Questions to Reflect On - What steps can industry take to improve representation? - How can allies support marginalized actors? A Different Perspective Changing casting practices requires structural change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actresses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actresses/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) ## Related quotes > [I never saw a consistent through-line of employment for black actresses. I was like, 'How are they supporting themselves?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khandi-alexander/i-never-saw-a-consistent-through-line-of-employment-for-black/) [Khandi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khandi-alexander/) > [I would definitely be open to more films if the role was right. I haven't thought about a move to Hollywood, but if there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-mauboy/i-would-definitely-be-open-to-more-films-if-the-role-was-right-i/) [Jessica Mauboy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-mauboy/) > [Young Black actresses were not necessarily given the space in Hollywood to fully see ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-underwood/young-black-actresses-were-not-necessarily-given-the-space-in/) [Lexi Underwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-underwood/) > [There is only room for a certain amount of black actresses in this industry. I don't want to fall into the zone of playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selita-ebanks/there-is-only-room-for-a-certain-amount-of-black-actresses-in-this/) Selita Ebanks > [Virginia Mayo had kind of a small role in The Best Years of Our Lives, but you got the whole character in one scene.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-dern/virginia-mayo-had-kind-of-a-small-role-in-the-best-years-of-our-lives/) [Laura Dern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-dern/) > [I always look at things half full and definitely see a change in how things are going as far as black actresses and their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-elise/i-always-look-at-things-half-full-and-definitely-see-a-change-in-how/) [Kimberly Elise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-elise/) > [We're in crisis mode as black actresses. It's not only in the sheer number of roles that are offered and that are out there,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/we-re-in-crisis-mode-as-black-actresses-it-s-not-only-in-the-sheer/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I want to be fulfilled creatively as an actress and get to be in roles that are meaningful and impactful. I hope the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amandla-stenberg/i-want-to-be-fulfilled-creatively-as-an-actress-and-get-to-be-in/) [Amandla Stenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amandla-stenberg/) > [There are a lot of great actresses out there. You learn to appreciate each one for what they offer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-pratt/there-are-a-lot-of-great-actresses-out-there-you-learn-to-appreciate/) [Victoria Pratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-pratt/) > [Just have fun. Smile. And keep putting on lipstick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-keaton/just-have-fun-smile-and-keep-putting-on-lipstick/) [Diane Keaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-keaton/) > [By the time I was seventeen, I was on my way to Hollywood and didn't look back. My family is supportive now, but like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-heard/by-the-time-i-was-seventeen-i-was-on-my-way-to-hollywood-and-didn-t/) [Amber Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-heard/) > [Marilyn was a great actress, not a dumb blond bombshell. She was very smart, very astute and a good businesswoman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-schiller/marilyn-was-a-great-actress-not-a-dumb-blond-bombshell-she-was-very/) [Lawrence Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-schiller/) > [I've been told before, and I tend to believe it, I'm not like most actresses out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moira-kelly/i-ve-been-told-before-and-i-tend-to-believe-it-i-m-not-like-most/) [Moira Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moira-kelly/) > [I think most of us are raised with preconceived notions of the choices we're supposed to make. We waste so much time making decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/i-think-most-of-us-are-raised-with-preconceived-notions-of-the/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) > [I feel excited about getting older as an actress, too. I think there are some amazing opportunities around the corner and I don't need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sutton-foster/i-feel-excited-about-getting-older-as-an-actress-too-i-think-there/) [Sutton Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sutton-foster/) ## More by D. B. Sweeney > [Whether or not your person wins or loses, give him a chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-sweeney/whether-or-not-your-person-wins-or-loses-give-him-a-chance/) [D. B. Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-sweeney/) > [I don't play the bass. I'm not in a band. I tried to think of ways I could touch base with the troops and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-sweeney/i-don-t-play-the-bass-i-m-not-in-a-band-i-tried-to-think-of-ways-i/) [D. B. Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-sweeney/) > [I had heard that Robert Duvall was interested in doing 'Lonesome Dove,' and he's one of those actors with whom I'd work on any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-sweeney/i-had-heard-that-robert-duvall-was-interested-in-doing-lonesome-dove/) [D. B. Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-sweeney/) > [I think Ovechkin is everything the NHL needs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-sweeney/i-think-ovechkin-is-everything-the-nhl-needs/) [D. B. Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-sweeney/) > [If you skate with an Olympic level skater, they make you so much better because you're skating behind them, and you're trying to imitate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-sweeney/if-you-skate-with-an-olympic-level-skater-they-make-you-so-much/) [D. B. Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-sweeney/) > [I think you have to do certain things in the pilot to get your network's attention - to break through... So maybe you push…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-sweeney/i-think-you-have-to-do-certain-things-in-the-pilot-to-get-your/) [D. B. Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-sweeney/) > [Why should a filmmaker turn over the irreplaceable asset, the movie, to a distribution center?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-sweeney/why-should-a-filmmaker-turn-over-the-irreplaceable-asset-the-movie-to/) [D. B. Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-sweeney/) > [Any time I get to work a home game, it's awesome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-sweeney/any-time-i-get-to-work-a-home-game-it-s-awesome/) [D. B. Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-sweeney/) > [When I played sports, if you lose the game, and then you complain, that makes you a sore loser. That doesn't make you protester…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-sweeney/when-i-played-sports-if-you-lose-the-game-and-then-you-complain-that/) [D. B. Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-sweeney/) > [I'm so proud and honored to have been in 'Lonesome Dove' and 'Eight Men Out.' How come I'm not known for one of those?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-sweeney/i-m-so-proud-and-honored-to-have-been-in-lonesome-dove-and-eight-men/) [D. B. Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-sweeney/) > [I have never been one of those actors who say, 'Oh, my character wouldn't do this,' or 'My character never wears an orange shirt,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-sweeney/i-have-never-been-one-of-those-actors-who-say-oh-my-character-wouldn/) [D. B. Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-sweeney/) > [To anybody who says to me, 'I'm in character,' I say, 'You should be in an asylum.' If you don't know that you're pretending,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-sweeney/to-anybody-who-says-to-me-i-m-in-character-i-say-you-should-be-in-an/) [D. B. Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-sweeney/) > [Joe Jackson was a tragic figure. He was a serene country boy who signed a confession he couldn't read. He was illiterate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-sweeney/joe-jackson-was-a-tragic-figure-he-was-a-serene-country-boy-who/) [D. B. Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-sweeney/) > [I had a teacher senior year in high school. He was a theater teacher, and he basically was a little bit like 'High School…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-sweeney/i-had-a-teacher-senior-year-in-high-school-he-was-a-theater-teacher/) [D. B. Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-sweeney/) > [Fifty-million-dollar movies gobble up the medium movies. A lot of people aren't working in Hollywood because of this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-sweeney/fifty-million-dollar-movies-gobble-up-the-medium-movies-a-lot-of/) [D. B. Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-sweeney/) [Explore all 82 D. B. Sweeney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-sweeney/) ## More Actresses quotes > [I feel excited about getting older as an actress, too. I think there are some amazing opportunities around the corner and I don't need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sutton-foster/i-feel-excited-about-getting-older-as-an-actress-too-i-think-there/) [Sutton Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sutton-foster/) > [I think most of us are raised with preconceived notions of the choices we're supposed to make. We waste so much time making decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/i-think-most-of-us-are-raised-with-preconceived-notions-of-the/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) > [I've been told before, and I tend to believe it, I'm not like most actresses out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moira-kelly/i-ve-been-told-before-and-i-tend-to-believe-it-i-m-not-like-most/) [Moira Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moira-kelly/) > [Marilyn was a great actress, not a dumb blond bombshell. She was very smart, very astute and a good businesswoman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-schiller/marilyn-was-a-great-actress-not-a-dumb-blond-bombshell-she-was-very/) [Lawrence Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-schiller/) > [By the time I was seventeen, I was on my way to Hollywood and didn't look back. My family is supportive now, but like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-heard/by-the-time-i-was-seventeen-i-was-on-my-way-to-hollywood-and-didn-t/) [Amber Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-heard/) > [Just have fun. Smile. And keep putting on lipstick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-keaton/just-have-fun-smile-and-keep-putting-on-lipstick/) [Diane Keaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-keaton/) > [There are a lot of great actresses out there. You learn to appreciate each one for what they offer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-pratt/there-are-a-lot-of-great-actresses-out-there-you-learn-to-appreciate/) [Victoria Pratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-pratt/) > [I want to be fulfilled creatively as an actress and get to be in roles that are meaningful and impactful. I hope the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amandla-stenberg/i-want-to-be-fulfilled-creatively-as-an-actress-and-get-to-be-in/) [Amandla Stenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amandla-stenberg/) > [There's certain things I try to avoid, as an actress, just to keep my world from being as narrow as it could be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/famke-janssen/there-s-certain-things-i-try-to-avoid-as-an-actress-just-to-keep-my/) [Famke Janssen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/famke-janssen/) > [All the baggage that comes with fame, being an actress. The down side to it is the intrusion into your life and this expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-watson/all-the-baggage-that-comes-with-fame-being-an-actress-the-down-side/) [Emma Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-watson/) > [I am going to be a great actress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivien-leigh/i-am-going-to-be-a-great-actress/) [Vivien Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivien-leigh/) > [As a black actress you've got to work doubly hard. But it doesn't ever get me to the point where I give up on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naturi-naughton/as-a-black-actress-you-ve-got-to-work-doubly-hard-but-it-doesn-t-ever/) [Naturi Naughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naturi-naughton/) > [I've seen new actresses do one show and disappear or struggle for years to get their next break. I've been fortunate enough to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjeeda-sheikh/i-ve-seen-new-actresses-do-one-show-and-disappear-or-struggle-for/) [Sanjeeda Sheikh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjeeda-sheikh/) > [I knew I wanted to be an actress as soon as I popped out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dee-wallace/i-knew-i-wanted-to-be-an-actress-as-soon-as-i-popped-out/) [Dee Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dee-wallace/) > [Campaigning actress ASHLEY JUDD refuses to 'breed' with her racing star husband DARIO FRANCHITTI while there are starving children in the world. . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-judd/campaigning-actress-ashley-judd-refuses-to-breed-with-her-racing-star/) [Ashley Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-judd/) [Browse all 1,881 Actresses quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actresses/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I know some black actresses who have to wait every 19 films for a role. 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