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Killing Eve star Sandra Oh slams racial diversity in UK in impassioned speech - The Mirror


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Killing Eve star Sandra Oh slams racial diversity in UK in impassioned speech

Sandra Oh, 48, says she was the "sole Asian person" on the set of Killing Eve in the UK

Sandra Oh has slammed the lack of racial diversity in the UK film industry.

The actress, 48, made the commentary drawing on her own observations from behind the camera during her time in the UK filming Killing Eve.

In an impassioned speech, the star said Brits are "behind" the US on diversity in film and TV industries and she said she was the "sole Asian person" during filming.

Sandra claimed there would be her and "75 white people on set" while she opened up about her filming experiences to Kerry Washington for Variety's Actors on Actors series.

She said: “Being the sole Asian person is a very familiar place for me. But the UK, I’m not afraid to say, is behind.

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"I’m not only the only Asian person on set – sometimes it changes, [it’s] very exciting when someone comes on set - but the development of people behind the camera is very slow in the UK.

“Sometimes it would be me and 75 white people... and I have not come from that. I have not come from that in my film career, which has been much more independent. Mostly working with women and women of colour and my relationship with television – and in the United States – hasn't necessarily been all white.”

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Sandra's powerful comments come after Hollywood director Steve McQueen recently pointed out "blatant racism" within the British film industry.

The 12 Years a Slave filmmaker demanded "the culture of the industry has to change".

He called for change while he pointed out how far behind the UK is in terms of diversity in comparison to the US.

Steve said he could "not believe the whiteness of the set" while filming a new TV series Small Axe.

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He added: "The UK is so far behind in terms of representation, it’s shameful.”

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