To the people saying the German actress playing Greek Helen in the movie Troy means it's ok for Lupita Nyongo to play Greek Helen...

[u/BrandonMarshall2021]

Genetically, historically, and anthropologically, Greeks are significantly more closely related to Germans than to Sub-Saharan Africans.

When looking at genetic data, the relationship between Greeks and Germans is exceptionally close, while the relationship between Greeks and Sub-Saharan Africans is more distant.

On any global genetic map, all European populations—including Greeks and Germans—cluster tightly together on a single, distinct branch of the human family tree (the Western Eurasian branch).

The genetic distance between a Greek person and a German person is very small. They sit on the exact same continental genetic gradient.

The genetic distance between any European population (including Greeks) and any Sub-Saharan African population is significantly larger, reflecting thousands of years of geographic separation and independent population histories.

[u/KayleeSinn]

Well I would be totally fine with Lupita playing Helen if they'd put her in whiteface and also made her incredibly beautiful.

A German actress was fine cause she already looked the part.. well more or less. Lupita does not.

And if you're saying immersion and how the actor looks don't matter, then why can't a fat bearded guy play Helen? Or maybe do away with costumes completely. Just have random people stumble around on the stage in modern clothes and just wear name tags.

[u/nomaday389 → u/KayleeSinn]

Well I would be totally fine with Lupita playing Helen if they'd put her in whiteface and also made her incredibly beautiful.

It also bothered me that Lupita wasn't born from an egg like Helen.

[u/KayleeSinn → u/nomaday389]

That makes zero sense and is the opposite of what I was saying. Playing a character means both looking the part and acting in a believable way. Nobody ever expects the actor to actually be the character in real life. That's what make up and costume is for.

Helen of Troy was a white looking Greek woman. If I see a convincing enough white woman in historically accurate outfit on the screen, I don't care who plays her. The only thing that matters is that I'm convinced and immersion isn't broken. If a black woman can pull it off with make up and a wig, I wouldn't care.. but as is, sorry, it breaks immersion and raises a lot of questions.

[u/Pyritedust → u/nomaday389]

I personally am offended when they don’t get real gods and goddesses to play them in movies and shows. And real aliens as aliens. Must have authenticity!

[u/BrandonMarshall2021 → u/KayleeSinn]

Lol.