Renowned Ghanaian actress and entrepreneur Beverly Afaglo has shared candid insights into the difficulties she encountered while establishing herself in the acting industry.
According to Beverly Afaglo, during her early days in the industry, she noticed a prevailing bias among movie producers, who frequently favored casting light-skinned individuals for various roles.
“During my time, producers often prioritized casting half-castes.
Jackie Appiah was a notable exception, likely due to her already established star status, which made her a desirable addition to projects,” Beverly Afaglo recalled.
Beverly Afaglo shared these candid insights during an appearance on Joy Learning TV , “The Career Trail”.
According to Beverly Afaglo, the prevailing preference for light-skinned actors was largely driven by the notion that they possessed a more visually appealing on-screen presence.
“The mindset among producers was that light-skinned actors had greater screen appeal, leading to a widespread preference for casting them in roles,” Beverly Afaglo explained.
Beverly Afógló revealed that this bias presented a significant obstacle for her and many other skilled actors, making it challenging for them to secure roles despite their talent.
Beverly Afaglo noted a significant turning point, where the industry’s perspective began to change, and producers started to actively seek out and cast more dark-skinned actors for specific roles, marking a gradual shift towards greater inclusivity.
“Eventually, producers had no option but to cast us because the stories being told at that time – kingdom narratives, princesses, and traditional settings – required our presence. These stories couldn’t be told with just one or two individuals; they needed a diverse cast.
As a result, producers were forced to work with us, and that’s when the shift began,” Beverly Afaglo explained.
