JPOST
Hollywood must challenge the ‘Jew Face’ stereotype
Zina Rakhamilova
August 22, 2023

In film and entertainment, portraying historical figures has always been a subject of intense scrutiny and debate. A recent controversy has grown around actor Bradley Cooper and his upcoming role in a Netflix biopic centered on the life of the legendary Jewish conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein. Cooper used a prosthetic nose in the film to portray Bernstein, an action widely criticized by the broader Jewish community and public figures on social media…No matter which side of the debate you fall on concerning Cooper’s actions, a legitimate discussion has been sparked on how to represent a person’s identity on screen appropriately and respectfully…A Jew playing the role of Bernstein could have prevented the “Jew-nose” or “Jew-face” fiasco that Bradley Cooper is now dealing with. READ MORE