Egypt has announced that it will produce its own documentary based on Cleopatra after the African Queens: Queen Cleopatra docudrama produced by Netflix, which features a black actress playing the queen, faced backlash and accusations of “blackwashing.” The state-affiliated United Media Services’ documentary channel, Al-Wathaeqya, has promised to conduct extensive research with specialists in history, archaeology, and anthropology to provide an accurate representation of the queen. The channel has promised to use the “upmost levels” of research and accuracy in its production.
Egypt slammed Netflix for presenting Cleopatra as black in its new docudrama, accusing the streaming giant of “falsifying Egyptian history.” The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities released a statement that provided evidence to support its claim that Cleopatra had a “light complexion” with “Hellenistic characteristics.” The ministry attached images of artifacts and coins with Cleopatra’s depiction on them to show off her “Hellenic (Greek) features, in terms of light complexion, drawn nose, and fluffy lips.”
The appearance of a black actress as Cleopatra has been a subject of controversy for years, with some historians claiming that Cleopatra was of Macedonian descent and would have had a light complexion due to her ancestry. However, some argue that it is impossible to determine Cleopatra’s appearance with certainty, as no contemporary portraits of her exist.
The controversy surrounding the Netflix production has sparked a conversation about the representation of historical figures in media and the responsibility of producers to present an accurate portrayal of history. The Egyptian government’s decision to produce its own documentary about Cleopatra is a step towards providing a more accurate representation of the queen and highlighting the importance of accurate historical depictions in media.
This is not the first time that controversy spews around the ancient ruler’s skin colour, as Gal Gadot was cast to play Cleopatra back in 2020, as well as white American actress Elizabeth Taylor’s portrayal of her from the 1963 film.
It is still unclear when the film is set to start production or be released, or who will be cast as the Queen of the Nile.
