There have been plenty of films, who have cast White actors in roles where the real life people (some still alive today) were African, Cuban, Mexican, Inuit, Asian etc. etc. etc.
Film: “A Mighty Heart” (2007) - Angelina Jolie played an Afro-Cuban woman, based on the real-life ordeal of journalist Mariane Pearl after her husband Daniel, a journalist for The Wall Street Journal, is kidnapped and later murdered by Pakistani militants.
Character’s Background: Mariane Pearl was born in France but she is of Afro-Cuban descent. She has naturally curly hair and a dark complexion.
Film: “21” (2008) the real-life blackjack team was of Asian descent but were portrayed in the film by white actors!! The film based on true events that follows the story of brilliant MIT students trained to become an expert card counter in blackjack.
Character’s Background: The protagonist of the film, Ben Campbell, is actually based on real-life MIT card counter and blackjack player Jeffrey Ma. Ma is an American of Chinese descent.
Film: “A Beautiful Mind” (2001) is a movie based on the life and career of brilliant mathematician John Nash.
Character’s Background: Alicia (born Alicia Lardé) is an MIT student who would later become John’s wife. The real Alicia was Salvadorian. Yet they cast a white woman - Jennifer Connelly - as his wife.
Film: “Argo” (2012) is based on the real-life work of top-level CIA operative Antonio J. Mendez, who helped orchestrate the rescue of six American hostages in Iran in 1980. The film won The Academy Award for Best Picture.
Character’s Background: Antonio J. Mendez was born in Nevada and is Mexican-American.
Film: “The 33” (2015) recounts the true story of the 33 Chilean miners who were trapped underground for 69 days.
Character’s Background: Maria Segovia was the real-life sister of one of the miner’s trapped underground. Above ground she was known for her efforts with “Campo Esperanza,” a makeshift tent community in the Atacama Desert where family members of the miners lived to stay close to their relatives. She is Chilean, with a dark brown complexion
Film: “Othello” (1965) is one of many film adaptations of Shakespeare’s tragedy of the same name.
Character’s Background: Othello is a general in the Venetian army. He is also a Christian Moor, which means he is generally depicted with a dark-complexion
.
Film: “The Lone Ranger” (2013) is a film-adaptation of the hit TV series of the same name. The movie was more centered on Native American warrior Tonto and his recollection of John Reid’s, aka the Lone Ranger, origin story.
Character’s Background: Tonto is a Native American warrior. In the 1950s TV series, he is portrayed by First Nation actor Jay Silverheels (also pictured above) who in real-life was a member of the Mohawk tribe.
Film: “Cleopatra” (1963) is a historical epic that follows Cleopatra’s passionate affairs with Julius Caesar and Marc Antony. Not to mention it’s one of the most extravagant and expensive movies ever made.
Character’s Background: Cleopatra was Egypt’s last independent pharaoh. She is widely believed to have been of Macedonian descent, though many modern-day scientists insist she also had African roots. That means that it is very unlikely that Cleopatra was as fair-skinned and light-eyed as Hollywood portrays her.