NEW YORK, Oct. 11 (UPI) -- Jamie Foxx says there is a lack of good movie roles for blacks because Hollywood has a slot system for black comics, Time magazine said in this week's issue.
Foxx -- who is getting rave notices for his portrayal of the late R&B legend Ray Charles in the new movie "Ray" -- said white actors have it tough in Hollywood, too, "because there's so damn many of them." But he said the movie industry only has a limited number of openings for black comics.
"Will Smith has a slot," he said. "Martin Lawrence has a slot. Chris Tucker, Chris Rock, they all have slots. I needed to get a slot."
In contrast to the high-prestige project he is currently promoting, Foxx's previous movie work has included such low-brow material as "Booty Call" and "The Players Club." He conceded sometimes actors don't have much to choose from when it comes to making movies.
"'Booty Call' was not a choice!" he said. "It was what I did because I couldn't get work in anything better."
