A.D actress Chipo Chung: There’s a level of racism that takes place in casting that people aren’t even conscious of

Emma Powell23 July 2015
The Weekender

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Chipo Chung is currently starring in two of the biggest shows on television - Fortitude and A.D - but the actress says her Chinese and Zimbabwean heritage has often prevented her from securing roles.

Chung, 37, is playing Mary Magdalene in NBC's A.D - a sequel to the hit 2013 series The Bible - which follows Jesus Christ's disciples in the aftermath of his crucifixion and resurrection.

Despite playing one of the shows leading roles, the former Doctor Who actress said that a "level of racism" during casting has often prevented her from securing certain roles.

“There’s a level of racism that takes place in casting that people aren’t even conscious of," she told London Live. "I remember one of my first auditions was to play Juliet and the feedback at the end was ‘You were wonderful but the director has chosen to go with a more traditional casting’.

“That’s what we have to deal with and so do people with disabilities and so do older women who become invisible as they get older."

Chung is closely involved with the Act for Change campaign - a movement which looks to increase diversity in British television - and was also featured in the 2013 BBC 100 Women programme which highlighted 100 of the most interesting and exciting female public figures.

Talking of the campaign - which was started by her friend and fellow actor Danny Lee Wynter - she said: “The Act for Change campaign is really pushing for diversity to be part of the agenda and because of that I think you’ll see in the next few years more people of diverse backgrounds on television in Great Britain.

“It’s perhaps a shame that people have to become activists to make change, but actually it reassures me that if you make an effort you’ll be heard."

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