The announcement comes after an interview with British Vogue’s Diana Evans. Newton, born Melanie Thandiwe Newton Parker, says her Zimbabwean mother Nyasha gave her the name. She is the princess of a Shona chiefly family. In the interview, Newton informs Evans that her name means “beloved” in Zimbabwe’s Shona language.
What We Know:
- Newton’s correction is part of her ongoing effort to be herself. She claims that she hid her identity due to racism that started in her childhood. When she attended Catholic school in Cornwall, she recalls that the W in her name went out of sight and earshot because she wanted to feel less different. At the same institution, she could not be in a class photo because of her cornrows. In ballet, she never received trophies due to her “brown” skin color. When she started acting, people “carelessly missed out” the W in her name. The misspelling goes all the way back to her first acting credit which recognizes her as “Thandie.”
“That’s my name. It’s always been my name,” she declared.
- At times in Newton’s career, filmmakers rejected her for not being “Black enough.” Directors have asked her to compromise her looks. Newton recalled that during her audition for her debut performance in Flirting, director John Duigan asked her if she could “be a bit darker.” She was also asked to be tanner by that Monday.
- Additionally, Newton refused a role in Charlie’s Angels because former Sony Pictures head Amy Pascal said a Black female character should be sexy but not university educated. British newspapers criticized her when she won a BAFTA. Her father is British and her birthplace is London; however, the source denied Newton’s heritage because of her mother’s culture.
- Newton feels it is important to be sincere about her experiences and identity, especially as an avid activist. Among supporting various movements, she has been vocal about sexual harassment. She feels compelled to help others because of her ordeal. On the set of Flirting, a 39-year-old Duigan groomed 16-year-old Newton. When a publicist asked Newton to stop talking about sexual abuse because it was not good for her reputation, she terminated the contract. She said she needed to continue helping others who have similar stories.
- She has also fought to ensure women are paid the same as men. While filming Westworld, she and co-star Evan Rachel Wood started being paid the same as their male counterparts. Despite the situation leaving her “disgusted,” Newton holds that she is setting a precedent in the industry that she wants to see normalized. She also wants studio heads to take more responsibility for the issue.
Newton confirmed to Evans that all her future films will have the new spelling of her name. She wants the public to know she is now in full control of her life, and all her adventures have led her to this. The Emmy and BAFTA-Award-Winning actress finished her interview by announcing, “I am taking back what is mine.”
