Billy Dee Williamsis defending actors who want to wear blackface in their performances.
When he did Othello, I fell out laughing, Williams said of Olivier on theClub Randompodcast.
He continued, I thought it was hysterical.
Billy Dee WilliamsWiktor Szymanowicz / Future Publishing / Getty Images
I love that kind of stuff.
You should do it.
If youre an actor, you should do anything you want to do.
The podcasts host noted that Williams lived in a period where you couldnt play the parts you shouldve played.
The point is that you dont go through life feeling like, Im a victim,' Williams added.
I refuse to go through life saying to the world, Im pissed off.
Im not gonna be pissed off 24 hours a day.
Williams famously portrayed the role of Lando Calrissian inStar Wars: The Empire Strikes Backin 1980.
The actor reprised his role in 1983sReturn of the Jediand again in 2019sRise of Skywalker.
I never think of myself in terms of the only Black character.
Everybody else might think of it that way.
In my reasoning in my own head, Im just a character, he said.
Ive been able to translate very well across the board.
Watch Williams full interview in the video below.
