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Marianne Jean-Baptiste decries lack of great roles for black women

Oscar-nominated actor says she has had to compromise because of dearth of complex roles in UK and Hollywood

Hard Truths star Marianne Jean-Baptiste has said there is still “a dearth of great multilayered roles for black women” in the UK and Hollywood, a week after missing out on an Oscar nomination. Jean-Baptiste, who became the first black British woman to be nominated for an Oscar in 1997, told the Radio Times she had been forced to compromise in her career because of the lack of complex roles on offer. Jean-Baptiste was not nominated for an Oscar for her starring role in Mike Leigh’s family drama, Hard Truths, where she plays Pansy, a middle-aged woman on the verge of a breakdown – despite being some people’s favourite to win the best actress category.

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