10 Actors Insulted By Movie Roles They Were Offered

Hiroyuki Sanada is one of the most famous Japanese actors in the world and is well known for his work on numerous Western films including Rush Hour 3, The Wolverine, 47 Ronin, and Avengers: Endgame. Much of his skill comes from his proficiency in martial arts, and his career has spanned more than five decades.

Looking back through his filmography, it seems there isn't a role the actor won't play, but that's not actually the case. There is one role he is adamantly opposed to taking on, and it's less of a specific role and more of a generalized racial one.

Sanada has been outspoken regarding the role of Asian actors in films throughout much of his career, and over the years, he has turned down numerous roles that offered to cast him playing other Asian nationalities.

"Sometimes I’ll get an offer for a Chinese role, or you’ll see a Korean actor playing Japanese -- and they don’t care. It’s so hard to get the right role for myself. It’s harder than before for survival. And also the Chinese market is getting bigger, so for a Japanese actor it’s a kind of hard time."

While a Western audience may not understand why he is against taking roles outside his own culture of Japan, he has said that "Every Asian country has its own, different culture."

He's right, and in respect of that fact, he won't take a role outside of his Japanese heritage.