Oscars diversity debate racist to whites, Charlotte Rampling says

“It is racist to whites”, responded Rampling, who is nominated for best actress alongside Cate Blanchett, Brie Larson, Jennifer Lawrence and Saoirse Ronan.

Speaking with the French radio station Europe 1 Friday, and translated by BuzzFeed, the 45 Years star said: “One can never really know, but perhaps the black actors did not deserve to be on the final list”.

When asked about the idea of instituting a quota in an attempt to increase diversity, she said, “Why classify people?”

“People will always say “Him, he’s less handsome; him, he’s too black:’ ‘he is too white.’ Someone will always be saying ‘You are too” (this or that)”.

Cheryl Boone Isaacs, president of Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, speaks at the 87th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California February 22, 2015.

When the interviewer tells Rampling black actors feel like they are in a minority, she replies, “No comment”.

“This is a hard but important conversation, and it’s time for big changes”, she said.

The controversy surrounding the nominations has only grown since they were announced.

“I saw somebody on your show today say, ‘Well what do we do with BET, Black Entertainment?’ I thought it was an wonderful interview actually”. Will Smith (for Concussion) and Idris Elba (for Beasts of No Nation) failed to get a nod and Academy members said that there other worthy contenders too for the slots. I think this is too late. The stark whiteness of the nominations this year has been so controversial (and rightfully so) that talent including Spike Lee, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Will Smith are skipping out on the ceremony this year. It’s not for Academy voters to judge whether or not a role is an appropriate representation of African-Americans or black people in general. “I stand with my peers who are calling for change in expanding the stories that are told and recognition of the people who tell them”.