Hobbit hopeful pulled up short over skin colour

This is ridiculous..people need to stop whinging and pulling the racism card everytime something like this happens. Clearly when it isn't racism!! My race is 'white' but due to a small percentage of some other race in me I tend to be quite dark especially in the summer. So if I was turned down the opportunity to be a hobbit because my skin is too dark then that is clearly not racism! It is just a bloody requirement. I can't even believe this weak s*** even makes it to the news. Wake up.. we arent living in the 20th century anymore.

Perfectly put Dave #116. I put this article in the same category as the news items on those suing a supermarket in America because they got caught in the automatic doors. Twits that should have gone away and thought things through before complaining. Such a waste of everyone's time making idiots like that 'newsworthy'.

Being one of the shortest of my friends I was surprised even I couldn't audition. I'm 5'4", which means I'm too tall to be a hobbit and too short to be an elf.

Instead of complaining I sit back, let the film be made and enjoy it when it comes out.

Stuff: though stupid, thanks for posting this article, it and the comments have made for an entertaining lunch break.

I'm a 30 year old white guy, I wanted the lead part in Whale Rider but they said they wanted a 10 year old Maori girl, Discrimination!!!!!

For goodness sake..........what utter drivel. This is PC nuttsville. The Hobbits were not brown skinned.... and so what???? Reality bites....get over it. Next you'll say Tolkein was a racist for never having written brown skinned Hobbits into his book. Darwin Award.

I am so over the race card. It seems to have become the perfect excuse/attack to get your own way when things don't do your way. I'm officially NZ European but hey - I'm English, Maori, Scottish, Dutch, German and French. Seems to me like I have a lot of excuses up my sleeve if need be.

In the professional world of the arts this is exactly what you have to expect we you are acting a role, and not playing you onstage/onscreen. Its based on what you give as a whole package. A - do you look right for the part, and B - do you have the skills e.g. acting to suit the part.

Being in a movie is like being in a play or musical - they select their cast in order to recreate the characters. I highly doubt that this was based on race and it is foolish and selfish to think so. I mean come on - they said your skin was darker e.g. tanned more they wanted. Not because your British Pakistani. I recently missed out on a part due to sizing but I don't take it to heart - I just didn't look right for the part.

I would question what experience this woman has in performing arts other than watching movies at christmas. It is clear that she hasn't had enough experience to know the business and makes large assumptions against the people who bring her her entertainment on Christmas day.

Look at any character description for a role and guaranteed they will specify a generalised description of what they are after.

Stop being bitter for missing out and just enjoy the movies

So if I, as a 41yr old female, was turned down for an audtion for the part of a 20yr old son, wouldn't that be age and gender discrimination? It's about a specific role, not race. I think we're all sick of having the 'racism' card played.

That's right stand up for the small people! Wait, what was this about? Is it me or do we get more whining stories in the press than ever before? It seems impossible not to do something without offending somebody in today's society..

um, script brief? Anyone? this 'story' shouldn't be taking up space really. And I should know better than to comment on it. There are certain looks required for certain roles and as far as I am aware the 'look' for the Hobbits is not dark skinned. Get over it. To put the words 'racist' into a story about how some poor, unfortunate soul didn't get her big movie break because of her skin colour is not only offensive but also incredibly bad journalism. Wonder if any pale skinned boys were turned away for the lead role in 'Boy'?

Oh noes racist hobbits in year 2010!

If a movie was set in Ancient China, would the so called anti-racists demand a non-Chinese to be in it?

If a movie was set in Ancient Africa, would the so called anti-racists demand a non-African be in it?

If a movie was set in Ancient India, would the so called anti-racists demand a non-Indian be in it?

Of course not! It is only White countries this is being done, because:

Anti-racist is a codeword for Anti-White!