Thandiwe Newton has said she wants to “apologise every day to darker-skinned actresses” for not representing them.

Her new film, God’s Country, has been adapted from a short story by James Lee Burke – but has swapped the lead character from an older white man into a black woman.

It centres on a grieving professor (Newton) who confronts two white hunters she catches on her property.

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.

“My internalised prejudice was stopping me from feeling like I could play this role when it’s precisely that prejudice that I’ve received,” she said. javascript:”

“Doesn’t matter that it’s from African-American women more than anyone else, doesn’t matter. I received prejudice. Anyone who’s received oppression and prejudice feels this character.”

Getting emotional, she added that she “wanted to apologise every day to darker-skinned actresses”.