"a lot of it is just like, being invisible.”
Charithra Chandran reflected on being a woman of colour in the entertainment industry, describing it as “being on an island”.
On John Smith’s Great Chat Show, the actress was asked about the roles she has been offered and the quality of those opportunities.
John Smith asked: “Were you surprised about the lack of roles that came your way or the quality of them?”
Charithra replied: “When we talk about discrimination, it’s not just like someone calling you slurs, right? Or someone being rude about you. It is also apathy.”
She went on to describe an experience at the premiere of One Piece.
“With One Piece, I had an experience at the premiere where all of the actors went down a tunnel and, like, the fans cheered.
“And you know, when you’re an actor of colour, you are always stressed that the cheers are going to be way less loud for you.
“No one’s being disrespectful, but a lot of it is just like, being invisible.”
@joshsmithsgreatchatshow @Charithra Chandran graced the show this week and talks her experience as a woman of colour in the entertainment industry. ? #charithrachandran #bridgerton #onepiece #discrimination ? original sound – joshsmithsgreatchatshow
Charithra has enjoyed success in major Netflix productions such as One Piece and Bridgerton, but she said she continues to feel a sense of insecurity.
She added: “I know I can give the performances that I wanna give and do the roles that I wanna do.
“I don’t have access to certain things, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t still have an incredibly fruitful, bountiful career that is really fulfilling.
“I think I sort of accept that certain things aren’t accessible to me.
“My tempered ambition has actually made me happier.
“I’m not comparing myself to my white counterparts, because what good is that?”
Charithra Chandran was recently seen as blue-haired bounty hunter Nefertari Vivi in series two of One Piece.
Her casting prompted backlash, with much of it focusing on her skin colour.
Reflecting on the criticism, Charithra Chandran previously said such situations are not unusual for women of colour in the entertainment industry.
She told BBC Newsbeat: “I think as a woman of colour in this industry, it is unfortunately something that is somewhat the status quo.
“It is absolutely not acceptable but I’m not the first person in this position; I will not be the last.”
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