Indigenous actor sues James Cameron for ‘stealing’ her facial features for Avatar character
Summary
Actor Q’orianka Kilcher has sued director James Cameron and Disney, claiming Cameron used her facial features without permission to create the Avatar character Neytiri. The lawsuit says Cameron copied her look from a photo and made billions from the Avatar films without giving her credit or payment.Key Facts
- Q’orianka Kilcher is an Indigenous actor who played Pocahontas in the 2005 film The New World.
- Kilcher says Cameron used her facial features for Neytiri after seeing her in a newspaper photo.
- Cameron gave Kilcher a signed sketch of Neytiri and a note saying she inspired the character.
- Kilcher was never asked to audition for Avatar despite attempts by her agent.
- The lawsuit calls the use of her face a theft, saying it exploited her Indigenous identity.
- Cameron acknowledged using Kilcher’s photo as a source in a social media video.
- The Avatar films have earned billions of dollars worldwide.
- Kilcher only found out about the use of her features after seeing Cameron’s video last year.
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