Best actress Oscar nominee Fernanda Torres apologises for wearing blackface-Rebecca Sayce-Entertainment – Metro

Fernanda Torres has apologised for wearing blackface in a 17-year-old sketch (Picture: ETIENNE LAURENT/AFP via Getty Images)

Fernanda Torres, who is nominated for the best actress Oscar this year, has apologised for wearing blackface in a resurfaced sketch.

The actor, 59, is among the stars up for the prestigious award for her performance in Brazillian drama I’m Still Here.

In it, Torres stars as Eunice Paiva, a mother and activist coping with the forced disappearance of her husband during the military dictatorship of Brazil.

Following the nominations, a clip from almost 20 years ago resurfaced which showed Torres performing in blackface.

The segment featured on Brazillian TV show Fantástico 17 years prior, and showed Torres performining as multiple characters including a housekeeper which she played in blackface.

Following an outraged response from fans, Torres released a statement saying she is ‘very sorry’ for the offensive action.

The sketch appeared on Brazilian TV show Fantastico (Picture: Fantastico/TV Globo)

She has said that blackface is ‘never acceptable’ (Picture: Fantastico/TV Globo)

The actor address the backlash in a statement (Picture: Amanda Edwards/Getty Images for Film Independent)

Torres is up for best actress at the 2025 Oscars for her role in I’m Still Here (Picture: AP)

‘Almost twenty years ago, I appeared in blackface in a comedy sketch from a Brazilian TV show,’ Torres said in a statement to Deadline.

‘I am very sorry for this. I’m making this statement as it is important for me to address this swiftly to avoid further pain and confusion.

‘At that time, despite the efforts of Black movements and organizations, the awareness of the racist history and symbolism of blackface hadn’t yet entered the mainstream public consciousness in Brazil.

‘Thanks to better cultural understanding and important but incomplete achievements in this century, it’s very clear now in our country and everywhere that blackface is never acceptable.

‘This is an important conversation we must continue to have with one another in order to prevent the normalization of racist practices then and now.

‘As an artist and global citizen, and from my open heart, I remain attentive and committed to the pursuit of vital changes needed to live in a world free from inequality and racism.’

Torres went on to say it is an important conversation to have amid the backlash (Picture: Amy Sussman/Getty Images)

Following her apology, other social media users pointed out that Emilia Perez star Zoe Saldana, who is also nominated for best supporting actress, wore blackface for the 2016 film Nina.

In it, the actor used dark makeup on her skin to portray acclaimed singer Nina Simone.

In 2020, Saldana apologised for the role, saying she ‘should have never played Nina.’

Others also criticised Torres for an article she wrote in 2022 amid the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard defamation trial in which she was critical of Heard.

Torres made history earlier this year as the first Brazilian actor to win a Golden Globe.

I’m Still Here has been nominated for three awards at the 2025 Oscars, including best picture.

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