The Emmy Award-winning actress Thandiwe Newton was credited as “Thandie” in her first role and has been credited this way in every role since she has taken back control of her given name.
The entertainment industry decided to add its own white spin to her name.
British Vogue reported that Newton wants to be credited going forward as the correct spelling of her name which means “beloved” in Shona.
The “Reminisce” star spoke on the reclamation, saying, “It’s always been my name. I’m taking back what’s mine.”
Ok, Thandiwe!
She also shared what happened in 2016 when she fired her publicist after Newton was told that speaking out against sexual abuse would “not good for your reputation.”
Newton shared with W Magazine that during an audition, a director filmed up her skirt. She later found out that he was showing the video to friends at poker games.
“He derailed me from myself, utterly,” she said.
“I was traumatized. It was a kind of PTSD for sure. I was so distraught and appalled that a director had abused a young actress, and that it was happening elsewhere, minors getting abused and how f****d up it was. I was basically waiting for someone to come along and say, ‘Well, what shall we do about this?”’
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Newton has become the spokesperson for awareness of abuse of power and challenging others’ silence in the entertainment industry.
She told British Vogue, “Even though people know they can speak out now, there is still the fear of losing their job,”
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