The interview brought up the suggestion some have made that the Academy introduce quotas, to which Rampling said, “Why classify people?”
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In the interview, conducted in French, Rampling went on to say, “You never know if it was really the case, but perhaps the black players do not deserve to be in the final stretch”.
Rampling is nominated for a best actress Academy Award for Andrew Haigh’s portrait of a marriage, 45 Years.
“I am very honoured to be included in this year’s wonderful group of nominated actors and actresses”, she said in a statement.
By Friday evening, she was on board: “Diversity in our industry is an important issue that needs to be addressed”, her statement continued.
On Friday (22.01.16), Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs unveiled the organisation’s plans for the future, which includes a pledge to double the amount of female and minority members by 2020.
“The nominations reflect the Academy, the Academy reflects the industry, and the industry reflects America”, said Smith, a two-time Academy Award nominee for “Ali” and “The Pursuit of Happyness”.
“Why should we always categorize people?”
Director Spike Lee and actors Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith have vowed not to attend the February 28 Oscar gala.
A number of her fellow nominees have publicly spoken out in support of the efforts to improve opportunities for non-white actors.
Ironically, Rampling has been known for shunning Hollywood most of her career, living in France and often waiting for roles to come to her rather than the other way around, according to her interview with CBS Sunday Morning airing this weekend. “It reflects a series of challenges that we are having in our country at the moment”.
“There will always be problems with people saying this one is too handsome, this guy is too black, this guy is too white, there will always be someone of whom people say, ‘You are too, ‘” Rampling said. “But do we have to take from this that there should be lots of minorities everywhere?”.
Michael Caine spoke to a BBC radio program and advised black actors to “be patient”.
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At one point, Caine appeared to be unaware all 20 acting nominees this year were white, asking if British actor of African descent Idris Elba was nominated.
