Thandie Newton has shocked Hollywood by insisting racism is still prevalent within the movie industry.

The British actress, who is of Zimbabwean descent, admits she once auditioned for a film role, but was left stunned when the studio boss questioned how a black woman could play the part of a college graduate.

Newton explains, "I've experienced racism in Hollywood but not as conflict or in a threatening way, just the ignorance of people."

"There was one time I went for a meeting for this big movie and I was up for a character who wasn't written as black. The character was a college graduate and the studio head, a woman, said, 'How can we make this role more black if we are going to have you in the film?' And I said, 'Well, I think as it's written it's fine...' And she said, 'Yeah, I know, but she is a graduate, she has been to university.' So I said, 'I've been to university.' And then it was, 'Yeah, but you're different.'"

The Crash star insists she didn't take offense to the comments - but she did refuse to take the job. She adds, "I wasn't offended. It's just nonsense. But no, I didn't do the film."

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(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)