When did Jolene Blalock turn black? - Slow Burn (2025)

by

Member since November 2004

Member since June 2005

Jolene Blalock recently said, in a iterview, that her father is a light skinned Afro-American. That means she didn't just turn black; she's always been black. I guess no one bothered to ask before now.

Just remember: I was as good as any and better then most-Vincent Freeman in Gattaca

by

Member since June 2005

Member since June 2005

Maybe they thought it would be a hoot to have a black woman playing a white woman who is trying to be black.
Just remember: I was as good as any and better then most-Vincent Freeman in Gattaca

by

Member since January 2005

Member since June 2005

Member since December 2006

*jumps on the bandwagon*
Watch the movie, then post on the board!

-They may kick our ass, but they'll never kick our freedom!

by

Member since July 2001

Member since May 2007

by

Member since August 2004

by

Member since March 2003

by

Member since November 2005

by

Member since May 2005

Member since March 2006

Catwoman was originally black, made white for the tv series/movies, nobody complained until Halle Berry was cast for Catwoman.

I understand your point though. It annoys me when characters race is changed to create a better audience draw. Its the reason why Samual Jackson was in the new Star Wars trilogy, purely because he could draw a crowd, the fact that he sucked in a sucky movie doesnt help anyone.

by

Member since July 2001

Member since March 2006

Actually no, they wanted an African American on the Jedi Council, they saught out Jackson because he has massive appeal to african american demographics with cross appeal to white demo's.

The only thing he got that he asked for was the colour of the sabre.

by

Member since July 2001

You are totally wrong!
"Was offered his role in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) after mentioning in an interview on UK TV show "TFI Friday" (1996) that he'd really like to work with George Lucas."

" In an interview, Jackson claimed that he did not have a chance to read the script for the film and did not learn he was playing the character Mace Windu until he was fitted for his costume (he later said that he was eager to accept any role, just for the chance to be a part of the Star Wars saga)."

"The search for an actor to play the character ended when Samuel L. Jackson expressed his desire to be in the next film, which the public would later learn was to be dubbed The Phantom Menace. Lucas then offered him the role"

Member since March 2006

Don't be so naive, everyone wants to be in Star Wars, but thats not why they get the roles.

by

Member since July 2001

Member since March 2006

Member since June 10, 2020

Member since March 20, 2023

Member since October 2005

Member since February 2008

Member since October 2004

by

Member since March 2002

I'll have to agree with you here mistresszhivago. I usually don't like getting into these things, and you know really I have no problem with Jolene Blalock in this part. But I don't like the tan and the braids. They should have just kept her normal look and gave her either the Bo Derek or full curls.

Just to acknowledge and address some points being made on this thread:
They said in the movie that she could pass for either, she was playing the part. And I think I read that Blalock's father was part blackso I give them kudosif this is so for trying to get someone convincing or at least who could have that air of mystery. That being said if someone saw her on the street they would just think she was a white woman with a bad weave. NOTHING in her looks and/or behavior in the beginning or in the club and the scenes with the braids fit the description LL's character described in the beginning. And there are racially mixed actresses who do look the partsomeone brought up Thandie Newton and Halle Berry, I hardly think anyone was suggesting that.

Anyway, I agree that her looking white was essential to the storyline, but at the same time, to most people she also had to be convincing as a streetwise bi-racial girl, at least at first glance or before they knew herMekhi acknowledges later on she looked maybe Mediterranean.

At the party, I really didn't like her hair.

So I can see where everyone's coming from but everything's a little one sided so I'm trying to be fair to all points of view..

***May your soul rise to heaven before the devil knows your dead***

Ghosts of Mississippi

Member since October 2004

I finally watched the whole movie (I posted about Jolene during the movie BEFORE they explained that she was supposed to "pass" for black and white"). I logged in during the movie to find out why she was basically in "black face" with a bad braid job in what did not look like a comedy. The truth is, she didn't do a good job acting she moved and spoke the same way for both characters. The only difference is she tried to make her eyes look super sexy, like she was ready for sex right then and there (obviously from her personal belief in the stereotype of black women). So I guess they had to do something outlandish appearance-wise to make the statement she couldn't make in her acting.

Not to fall into the trap of a "particular" way she should act when black, but ANY distinction in characters on Jolene's part would have been better.

I'm trying to think of a good actress who could pass for both Halle, nope, not even Thandie, I thought Ari Nicole Parker, BEFORE I knew they were trying to get someone who could "pass" but not even here - these all look African American

I GOT IT!!!! Jennifer Beales!!!! Remember her from "Devil in a blue Dress?" She played the same type character (mixed heritage passing for white).

She would have been fantastic and brought authenticity and quality to the part and even raised the level of the film. It was REALLY hard to buy Makai and LL warming up to Jolene's character. It was a great story, but she was a plastic distraction. They were describing her in the old school detective monologues as a sexy, sultry temptress who could fool you into believing either. Jolene didn't measure up to that for me. I was like "Her?" They should have had an African American Hollywood stylist stick up a poster of Vivica Foxx and do Jolene's clothes, makeup and hair (modern weave, not braids) on the set.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000884

2008 Photo: http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3958085376/nm0000884

Sooo could have knocked this one out of the park!

by

Member since March 2002

Jennifer Beals is a good choice and there still are others, I'm sure. Actually I could name a few but I'm unsure of their acting ability. You know after I posted the other night I thought about her acting too. She really didn't switch it up. Now when I said I didn't mind her in this part, that's based on looks primarily. I'm not saying she had to try to do a typical ghetto girl accent, but she could definitely have approached each character differently.
This character could have been played by an unknownthey had enough stars in it as is.

***May your soul rise to heaven before the devil knows your dead***

Ghosts of Mississippi

Member since August 2004

JOLENE BLALOCK IS A BEAUTIFUL, BRILLIANT, AND TALENTED MULTIRACIAL ACTRESS! That's what the part called for (someone who could pass both ways), and that's how it was cast. I paid scant attention to the film, because I found the pace to be extremely tedious, but even in my bored stupor, it was crystal clear that the predominant plot device was her chameleonic ability to change her appearance racially. Hence the tagline: "The truth is just a trick of light". Hello? Did someone not get the point? If we laugh when Eddie Murphy portrays an old Jewish man in "Coming To America", or when the Wayans brothers portray "White Girls", then what difference does it make anyhow? Who better to portray a character who is capable of moving between the races, than an actress that is capable of it, no matter what race YOU want to label her? If you had bothered to pay any attention to Jolene Blalock in this film, and in any of her other acting performances (except Enterprise where her true beauty is deliberately obscured by makeup and prosthetics), you might have noticed that her natural skin color and hair texture reveal very subtle traits of her mixed race heritage. Even though her real skin color is not nearly as dark as it was in this film, it's hardly peaches & cream, it's just pale enough to pass for white. As a fellow mixed race woman, I can attest that she has exactly the same hair texture as me and my sister. Ignorant people like you are why actresses like Jolene Blalock can pass when they need to, to get a part. Finally, what purpose did your comment serve except to be racially divisive and prove that you clearly know nothing about the multitudes of variations in people who share part of your Black heritage? Get over yourself, we've moved beyond your antiquated labels, stereotypes, and prejudice.

signed,

AN AMERICAN MULTIRACIAL WOMAN (listed in the order of importance)

by

Member since August 2009

by

Member since May 2004

Ummm, I just read your post, Mermaid, and Jolene ia in no way multi-racial. Not that that would be a problem, if she were, but, she's not. You should check it out before you go on a rant.

I've.seen things you people wouldn't believe; Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion.

by

Member since May 2004

Ruth Negga, boy is she gorgeous.

http://www.imdb.com/board/21550948/

I've.seen things you people wouldn't believe; Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion.

by

Member since May 2005

agreed

I am full of it, thank you.

Member since March 2004

Member since January 2002

I believe one of the main issues of the plot is that abiguity.

Protective, Detective, Electric Eye

Member since March 2004

Member since December 2008

In the movie Jolene's character claimed she was biracial, but her lover (Mekhi Phifer) questions her background when he sees a family photo of her parents- which neither are black.

Jolene's character was basically a white woman trying to come off as biracial. I was confused with her casting as well at first.

[DATA EXPUNGED]

Member since May 2011

by

Member since May 2009

Member since December 22, 2020