Till actor Danielle Deadwyler opens up about Oscars snub row

The Bafta-nominated actor and star of Till, Danielle Deadwyler, joined Nuala McGovern on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour this week.

Danielle’s extraordinary portrayal of the civil rights activist Mamie Till-Mobley in Till has earned her a Bafta nomination for Best Leading Actress.

The film tells the true story of Mamie’s pursuit of justice after her 14-year-old son, Emmett Till, was tortured and lynched in 1955 for allegedly whistling at a white woman.

Following Danielle’s Bafta nomination, there was a lot of conversation about her absence from the list of Oscar nominees for Best Actress this year and the fact that there were no black stars on the lead acting shortlists.

The director of Till, Chinonye Chukwu, denounced the film industry for upholding whiteness and also for perpetuating an unabashed misogyny towards black women.

Speaking to Nuala, Danielle said she agreed with Chinonye Chukwu: “There is value to what Chinonye said”. She also said that “Cinematic history is 100+ years old. The system is deeply, deeply impacted by systemic racism that has shaped our country.”

Head to BBC Sounds to listen to Danielle’s powerful interview - it’s the Woman’s Hour episode from 7 February.