Hollywood star Jackson faced racism

7:51pm Friday 21st November 2008

Hollywood film star Samuel L Jackson revealed that he was the victim of racism while growing up in the US.

In an interview with the Prince of Wales's charity, The Prince's Trust, he described having to face barriers as a youth.

The 59-year-old actor has been recruited by The Prince's Trust to encourage youngsters to achieve their goals.

In an interview with the Trust he described how he had battled racism while growing up in the southern US.

He said: "Like many young people I faced lots of barriers. They included growing up in a segregated southern state of America. I faced racism during my whole adolescence.

"Everyone encounters negativity at some point. The most unhelpful thing someone said to me was that my goals of being an actor were unachievable, that I hadn't created a back door for myself, a fall-back, room for failure."

He added: "On the other hand, the best advice that was given to me was that I had to be 10 times smarter, braver and more polite just to be equal. So I did. Eventually my dream of becoming an actor became a reality, which is always bigger."

Jackson has starred in films as diverse as Quentin Tarantino's edgy Pulp Fiction, roles in the new Star Wars films and the recent thriller Lakeview Terrace.