Newton, born to a Zimbabwean mother and British father, spoke about her latest film project titled God's Country that debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in January. The film was based on "Winter Light," a short story by James Lee Burke.

Initially, the story's protagonist was an "older, weathered white man." However, the film switched the character to a Black woman. As such, Newton plays the character of Sandra, a college professor residing in Montana, who is dealing with a tragic loss and falls into a conflict with two hunters, Variety reports.

Talking about the film, Newton said though the role allowed her to heal as a Black woman, she hesitated taking it because she did not think she was "dark-skinned" enough for the role, Sky News reports.

Newton opened up about her encounters with colorism in Hollywood, and the perceived rejection of Black women who she believes feel that she doesn't adequately represent them as a fair-skinned woman.

"I now realize that my internalized prejudice was stopping me from feeling like I could play this role when it's precisely that prejudice that I've received. It doesn't matter that it's from African American women more than anyone else," she said, according to AP News. "I received prejudice. Anyone who's received oppression and prejudice feels this character."

"I've wanted so desperately to apologize every day to darker-skinned actresses. To say, 'I'm sorry that I'm the one chosen.' My Mama looks like you," she said, shielding her tears by covering her face with her hand.

"It's been very painful to have women who look like my mom feel like I'm not representing them. That I'm taking from them, taking their men, taking their work, taking their truth," she continued. "But I do think any woman of color, whether they're pale or whatever, you've managed to help other actors get into this business, we matter. Whenever they say Black women have watched the movie and it really, really, really mattered to them, I just thank God that my light skin didn't stop that from happening, that it didn't cause more pain."

Some Twitter users felt her comments were performative, cringey, condescending and disingenuous.

Other users were willing to hear the actress out.

Thandiwe has been on a journey to decolonize herself(mind) since the beginning of lock down. She's done a lot of reflection and is on the path to now correct things she never questioned on her way to the top. Started, by changing her abbreviated name to her full African name.

— Superlative Max !! (@popedaniels) February 4, 2022

Newton recently decided to use her traditional Zulu name, Thandiwe, instead of Thandie, Essence reports.