Gabrielle Union Recalls Losing Role To “Prettier” Actress
Actress Gabrielle Union is looking back on the moment she lost a role to a “prettier” actress and how it changed her perception of the entertainment industry forever.
“Years ago, I was up for a big job, and after numerous callbacks and studio tests, it was down to just the two of us,” the “Bring It On” star shared with Netflix’s Strong Black Lead platform over the weekend.
She continued, “I was told I didn’t get the part because ‘She’s just prettier than you.’ For someone who had low self-esteem, it just felt like there was no place for me, for my kind of Blackness.”
Union admitted that after hearing the comment, “It pretty much killed that confident pep in my step, and I was equating my looks to my ability to do the job.” She added, however, “I recognize that if I had gotten that job and I was around people like that, my soul would be worn down. I only want to be in spaces where I’m wanted.“
Fans in the comment section of the clip on social media quickly began sharing their theories on who the mystery actress could’ve been. Many suggested that it was “Scandal” star Kerry Washington.
In a 2013 interview, Union revealed that she had auditioned for the Shonda Rhimes series, noting that she “was one of the last five or ten to audition…” At the time she shared, “When Kerry got it, I congratulated her.”
