Actors aren't shy about celebrating important achievements, like landing a dream role in a big-budget film. Turning down such a project is far less common. But that's exactly what Odessa A'Zion did when she found herself at the center of a casting controversy for the upcoming film adaptation of the novel "Deep Cuts." » from A24. Now, nearly six months after leaving the project, the actress has come forward to explain the reasons why she ultimately decided to withdraw.
Earlier this year, it was announced that the star of "Marty Supreme" would play Zoe Gutierrez, a character from Holly Brickley's 2025 novel, who is described as Jewish and Mexican. The news quickly spread on social media, with fans of the book expressing concerns about the role being played by an actress who shares the character's Latino heritage. Odessa didn't wait long to respond to fans, announcing on social media that she was officially leaving the "Deep Cuts" project.
Odessa A'Zion says authenticity was a key factor in her leaving Deep Cuts.
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the 25-year-old actress opened up about the casting controversy and didn't shy away from admitting she understood the reasons for many of the concerns. A'zion also shared that she originally auditioned for the lead role in the film and was later offered a different female role, not understanding a crucial aspect of the character at the time. She said, "I didn't think to read the book. I read the script once. I auditioned for the lead female role and didn't get it. Much later, I was offered the second female role. I didn't think to go back and read her name because that's the only time anything was mentioned in the script. Her last name was mentioned once. I literally had no idea.".
Odessa Atsion attends the 83rd Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 11, 2026 in Beverly Hills, California.
However, after learning more about the character, she realized the role wasn't right for her. Rather than taking the criticism as a personal insult, Odessa saw it as part of a larger discussion about authenticity and representation in the entertainment industry.
The actress also noted how frustrating this whole situation is because people already had an opinion about it before they understood the full extent of what was happening.
«"Diversity representation in Hollywood is so important, and there are so many other roles I could have played that don't meet that criteria. This role wasn't for me. It was incredibly frustrating, and it was horrible, and people can think whatever they want, but I had no idea. I was thrilled when I found out about it because it came up for me when I saw the photo being tagged and thought, 'Wait, what?' I literally called them right away and said, 'I'm not doing this,'" the actor added.
For Odesa, this decision was apparently motivated less by a desire to avoid controversy than by a desire to make a choice she felt comfortable with. No one wants to turn down a role in a film, especially when their performance is receiving near-universal acclaim, but Odesa's decision to withdraw from this particular project demonstrates the importance of the discussion about the authentic representation of diverse populations.
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