For years, the movie 'The Help' has been criticized for its portrayal of race relations in America. Viola Davis, who starred in the film, has expressed her regrets about her role in the 2011 period drama. Davis believes that the movie's reliance on outdated stereotypes and the White Savior trope has caused it to age poorly and contribute negatively to the representation of Black actors and actresses in Hollywood. She expressed concerns about the depictions of race and people of color in the industry, particularly in light of a potential sequel to 'The Help'. Davis feels that the movie's oversimplified solutions to solving racism cater more to White audiences than to people of color, and that it falls prey to silencing Black voices in favor of amplifying White ones. She also believes that the film didn't do much in the way of advancing her career, despite her lauded performance. 'The Help' has faced criticism for its simplified approach to race relations, which doesn't hold up well today given the ever-growing racial tensions in the United States. Davis hopes that her regrets about her role in the film will contribute to a broader conversation about the need for more authentic and nuanced portrayals of race in Hollywood.
Glen Powell, co-star of the film 'Hidden Figures', has also expressed his concerns about his role in the movie. Powell portrayed astronaut John Glenn in the film, which was led by Octavia Spencer, Taraji P. Henson, and Janelle Monáe. After watching a rough cut of the film, Powell felt that his performance was terrible and that he had let down the real-life women who inspired the film. However, once the music and other elements were added, Powell realized that the film became polished and he no longer felt like the weak point. Powell's worries about his performance in 'Hidden Figures' highlight the pressure and self-doubt that actors can experience when working on important projects. Despite his initial concerns, Powell's performance in the film was well-received by audiences and critics alike. He is currently starring in an action-comedy film, which is playing in cinemas and will be available to stream on Netflix from June 7th.
In addition, Kevin Costner, who played the character of Al Harrison, the director of NASA's Space Task Group, in 'Hidden Figures', recently revealed in an interview that he worked on the film while on a morphine drip due to kidney stones. Costner worked 10 days under an IV drip and didn't miss a day of work. He had visible bruising from the IV treatments, which affected his wardrobe choices in the film. Despite the physical discomfort, Costner's dedication to his role in 'Hidden Figures' is evident. The film, which is a biographical drama based on the work of three Black female mathematicians at NASA, was a box office success and received three Oscar nominations. Costner has since released the first movie in his four-part post-Civil War drama, 'Horizon: An American Saga'.
These reflections from Viola Davis, Glen Powell, and Kevin Costner shed light on the challenges and complexities that actors face in their roles and the impact that these films have had on their careers and personal experiences. Their insights contribute to a broader conversation about the need for more authentic and nuanced portrayals of race in Hollywood.