British actor and screenwriter Lennie James has questioned the notion that film roles should only be played by actors with lived experience and called for casting to be made on a 'case by case basis'.
James, 56, said he would 'challenge' the idea that certain parts must be reserved for particular actors to ensure their performance is authentic because it would fundamentally change the role of the actor.
The actor, who is known for playing devoted father Morgan Jones in the hit AMC zombie series 'The Walking Dead,' and DCI Tony Gates in British police series 'Line of Duty' told the BBC casting decisions should be made 'on a case by case basis'.
'I don't believe in blanket statements... because then the role of the actor slightly changes and is slightly different to the one I hope and pray that it is,' James said.
It comes as several internationally renowned actors have copped criticism for their portrayal of characters of different ethnicities, gender, sexualities and experiences than their own.
But many have argued the function of an actor is to play the role of somebody they are not, and that making casting decisions without nuance - based exclusively on lived experience - would make the craft of acting redundant.
British actor and screenwriter Lennie James has questioned the notion that film roles should only be played by actors with lived experience and called for casting to be made on a 'case by case basis' (James pictured at Comic Con in 2019)
The actor, pictured in character as devoted father Morgan Jones in the hit AMC zombie series 'The Walking Dead' said he would 'challenge' the idea that certain roles must be reserved for particular actors to ensure their performance is authentic because it would fundamentally change the role of the actor
James explained that he agreed actors with lived experience should have more of an opportunity to be cast in more roles 'in areas where authenticity has been underserved'.
'Where gay actors have not been given the opportunity to play gay parts, or disabled actors have not even been considered for the opportunity to play disabled parts, in that situation then I would 100 per cent be part of the conversation of saying, why not? That absolutely should change,' James said.
But he insisted that blanket casting decisions should be challenged when it comes to choosing an actor based solely on whether their real-life identity aligns with the role.
James' comments come as two Academy Award winning actors - Dame Helen Mirren and Javier Bardem - were targeted in recent weeks for their portrayal of characters with whom they did not share lived experience.
Mirren was criticized by fellow dame Maureen Lipman for her portrayal of former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir in the lead role of the upcoming film 'Golda'.
Lipman said that other Jewish actors should've been cast in the place of Mirren because 'the Jewishness of the character is so integral' - though quickly contradicted her argument by suggesting Tracey Ullman, another non-Jewish actor, would be a suitable choice for the role.
Rabbi Jonathan Romain, director of Maidenhead Synagogue in Berkshire, expressed his view on the row, saying: 'You don't have to be Jewish to play a Jew'.
Rabbi Romain, 67, said: 'We had a discussion on this at Maidenhead Synagogue two weeks ago; the unanimous verdict was that actors should act - that's what is their skill.'
Bardem meanwhile copped flak for assuming the role of Cuban American actor Desi Arnaz in the 2021 film 'Being The Ricardos', despite being a Spanish man from the Canary Islands.
Bardem responded defiantly to critics, arguing: 'I'm an actor, and that's what I do for a living - try to be people that
