Zoe Kravitz claims she was shut out of auditions for The Dark Knight Rises because producers thought she was 'too urban'

By Laurel Brown for MailOnline

Published: 16:25 EST, 15 July 2015 | Updated: 18:11 EST, 15 July 2015

Zoe Kravitz claims she was shut out of auditions for The Dark Knight Rises because of her ethnicity. 

The 26-year-old actress and singer - who is the daughter of Lenny Kravitz and Lisa Bonet - has broken her silence in a new interview. 

'In the last Batman movie, they told me that I couldn't get an audition for a small role they were casting because they weren't "going urban,"' Zoe told Nylon Magazine for its August 2015 issue.

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Too 'urban'? Zoe Kravitz said in an August 2015 Nylon interview that her look denied her an audition for The Dark Knight Rises

Too 'urban'? Zoe Kravitz said in an August 2015 Nylon interview that her look denied her an audition for The Dark Knight Rises

'It was like, "What does that have to do with anything?" I have to play the role like, "Yo, what's up Batman? What's going on wit chu?"' she added.

As the daughter of biracial parents who had found significant success in music and acting, Zoe explained that she had, as a child, felt conflicted about race herself.

'I identified with white culture and I wanted to fit in,' she said of her earlier years. 'I didn't identify with black culture, like, I didn't like Tyler Perry movies.'

No shot: After being called 'too urban,' Zoe wondered what that would even mean in a Batman movie

No shot: After being called 'too urban,' Zoe wondered what that would even mean in a Batman movie

Cultural embrace: In her roles, Zoe has tried to celebrate her identity and black culture

Cultural embrace: In her roles, Zoe has tried to celebrate her identity and black culture

'Black culture is so much deeper than that, but unfortunately that is what's fed through the media. That's what people see. That's what I saw.'

Because of this shift in her viewpoint, Zoe has worked to change perceptions through her work: 'I had to un-brainwash myself. It's my mission, especially as an actress.'

One of Zoe's musical colleagues, George Lewis Jr., was quoted as agreeing in the same article. 'She actively tries to represent herself in a positive way that doesn’t pigeonhole her when it comes to race, but also how Hollywood and America see women.'

Rising star: The daughter of singer Lenny Kravitz and actress Lisa Bonet has both a singing and acting career

Rising star: The daughter of singer Lenny Kravitz and actress Lisa Bonet has both a singing and acting career

Wrap up in a cozy Missoni cardigan

Missoni Winter 2015

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We'll be dammed if Zoe misses out on another role based upon her "urban" aesthetic. Because that is exactly the type of style we are trying to achieve here at Fashion Finder, and we can start with her chunky knit Missoni cardigan.

For some people, that hip, urbane effortless bohemian style comes naturally. But for most, we observe and follow suit.

The sad thing about this one is that Zoe's cardy is no longer available because it was a winter item. But heck, we're feeling inspired, and if we can't get our paws on Zoe's chunky, abstract patterned knit then might as well get the next best thing.

So check out the edit below to see if anything catches you eye. We'd pair this bohemian style cardigan with cutoffs for summer or--boyfriend jeans in winter.

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'She is picking roles where women are powerful, and she cares so much about changing the norm of the industry,' he added.

Recent roles in Zoe's career corroborate this - she has appeared in Mad Max: Fury Road, the Divergent films, and the two most recent X-Men movies.

Zoe also co-starred in the 2015 independent film, Dope, for which she received critical acclaim.

Big movies: While she found acclaim for acting in an indie movie, Dope, Zoe has also appeared in X-Men movies, Divergent, and Mad Max: Fury Road

Big movies: While she found acclaim for acting in an indie movie, Dope, Zoe has also appeared in X-Men movies, Divergent, and Mad Max: Fury Road

Her overall artistic sense seemed to be summed up in the interview: 'I'm not a f**king genius, but I know who I am as an artist.'

'No one knows what's cool,' she added. 'Just do it with confidence - no one can take that away from you.'

 

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