‘Bridgerton’ Star Laments Poor Lighting On Black Skin, An Industry Problem

Video screenshot via Netflix

Adjoa Andoh, who plays the regal Lady Danbury from Bridgerton, has shone a spotlight on a persistent issue in the television industry—the poor lighting of Black actors. While the show has undoubtedly been a global sensation, Andoh’s experience highlights a less glamorous side of the entertainment world. In a recent interview on Miquita Oliver’s Stirring It Up podcast, she highlighted the ongoing struggle to properly illuminate Black skin on screen.

Despite the show's success, Andoh, a veteran actress with experience across theater, television, and film, feels a constant need to advocate for proper lighting. It's a battle she has grown weary of.

“Nothing’s changed,” she lamented about the continuing conversation on lighting Black skin that plagues productions. She acknowledged, however, that production crews are “getting better,” although it can still be “very tiring” and “distracting.”

Asked if she felt more powerful now as an actress, she pondered, “I suppose I feel powerful in that I will now go, ‘Am I blonde?’”

Andoh further expressed a desire to focus on her acting without the distraction of raising technical concerns. “I don’t want to make a fuss,” she admitted, “I want to stay in character. I just want to come on and be Lady Danbury and do what she’s got to do and be totally engaged with that.”

She added she just wanted to work with her “gift” and “in a free way, like I see many other people doing.”

Improper lighting can wash out details and nuances in darker skin tones, hindering the overall quality of the performance and the audience’s experience. Andoh’s words serve as a reminder that while progress has been made, there is still a long way to go in ensuring that Black actors receive the same level of consideration and respect in all aspects of production.

[via BuzzFeed, Los Angeles Times, NME, video and screenshot via Netflix]