Source: Robin L Marshall / Getty
In a recent interview with The New York Times, actor Colman Domingo shared insights into the challenges he faced breaking into the film and television industry. Domingo recounted a specific incident back in 2014 after earning a Tony nomination for The Scottsboro Boys musical.
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During this period, Domingo found himself auditioning for smaller roles, often referred to as “under-fives,” which typically involve fewer than five lines of dialogue. He spoke about auditioning for HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, where he was called back for a role as the maître d’ at a Black-owned nightclub. Domingo impressed producers with his singing and dancing skills, even wearing a tuxedo for the audition.
However, he faced a setback when his agent revealed that a historical researcher on the show reminded producers that maître d’s in those nightclubs were historically light-skinned. Consequently, Domingo, who is not light-skinned, lost the opportunity as Boardwalk Empire opted for a different casting direction.
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Recalling the incident, Domingo expressed his frustration, stating, “That’s when I lost my mind. I can’t take it anymore, I think this is going to kill me.”
“I became an actor that was ‘offer-only’ probably sooner than the industry thought I should have,” he said. “But I decided I have a body of work. You can go and look at it, you can ask other directors about me, and you can make me the offer or not.”
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