Eddie Murphy has a celebrated race, but at one time, she received disconcerting advice from Sydney Paitier about her career.
In the documentary Number one on the call sheet: Black Leading Men In Hollywoodhe SNL Star recalled: “They were talking about doing Malcolm X. Norman Jewison (initially was ready to direct the project, but later Spike Lee does it) I was joining it. They were going to use the autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley. And they approached me to play Alex Haley.”
Still considering the offer, Eddie said he had encountered Sidney, who, in return, gave him advice that left him confused.
“Around that same time, I ran into Sydney Paitier in something, and I asked him: ‘Yes, I’m thinking of playing Alex Haley!'” He said.
“And Sidney Poitier said: ‘You are not Denzel, and you are not Morgan. You are a breath of fresh air, and do not**** with that!'” Said the 63 -year -old man.
“I didn’t know if it was an insult or a compliment,” Eddie asked, adding: “I was like, ‘What?'”
But the Shrek Star was deeply immersed in Sydney’s comments, speculating why THE CHACAL Star believed he was different from Denzel Washington or Morgan Freeman.
“I was in unknown waters. For Sidney and all those guys, when I appeared, it was something a bit new. They did not have a reference for me, they could not give me advice, because I was 20, 21 years old, and my audience was the mainstream, all everywhere,” The nut teacher aggregate.
“My movies [were] Worldwide, and they had never had it with a young black person. Then no one could give me advice, really. Everything broke really big and very fast, “Eddie concluded.
