The children of Leonard Bernstein have defended Bradley Cooper's use of "make-up to amplify his resemblance" to the late composer in an upcoming film.
American actor Cooper, 48, who has nine Oscar nominations, plays Bernstein in the Netflix biopic Maestro.
Critics have said Cooper's decision to wear a large prosthetic nose for the role plays up to Jewish stereotypes.
Others have questioned whether non-Jewish actors, like Cooper, should even play Jewish roles.
In a statement from Jamie, Alexander, and Nina Bernstein on Wednesday, they said: "Bradley Cooper included the three of us along every step of his amazing journey as he made his film about our father.
"We were touched to the core to witness the depth of his commitment, his loving embrace of our father's music, and the sheer open-hearted joy he brought to his exploration.
"It breaks our hearts to see any misrepresentations or misunderstandings of his efforts.
"It happens to be true that Leonard Bernstein had a nice, big nose. Bradley chose to use make-up to amplify his resemblance, and we're perfectly fine with that. We're also certain that our dad would have been fine with it as well.
"Any strident complaints around this issue strike us above all as disingenuous attempts to bring a successful person down a notch - a practice we observed all too often perpetrated on our own father.
"At all times during the making of this film, we could feel the profound respect and yes, the love that Bradley brought to his portrait of Leonard Bernstein and his wife, our mother Felicia.
"We feel so fortunate to have had this experience with Bradley, and we can't wait for the world to see his creation."
On Tuesday, Netflix posted the trailer for the new movie, which will depict the relationship between Bernstein and his wife, the Costa Rican-born actress Felicia Montealegre Bernstein (Carey Mulligan).
In the teaser, Cooper - best known for his roles in A Star Is Born, Silver Linings Playbook, and The Hangover - depicts the composer at different moments of his life.
Bernstein, the son of Jewish-Ukrainian immigrants, died in 1990 but remains one of the best-known composers and conductors of all time.
He served as music director of the New York Philharmonic and wrote the Broadway musical West Side Story.
Questions about whether actors, particularly white performers, should play real-life figures from ethnic minorities have long roiled Hollywood.
In recent years, the casting of non-Jewish actors to play Jewish roles has come to the fore.
Helen Mirren drew controversy for portraying former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir in this year's Golda.
Former EastEnders actress Tracy-Ann Oberman, who is from a Jewish background, compared Cooper appearing to have "a prosthetic nose" as similar to the use of blackface make-up.
She told her Instagram followers: "Cillian [Murphy] could play Oppenheimer because he looks like Oppenheimer and could get the power of the man's story and Jewishness through the power of his acting, ditto Tom Conti as Einstein didn't have to 'wear' a nose.
"If Bradley Cooper can't do it through the power or acting alone then don't cast him - get a Jewish actor."
Maestro is due to premiere at next month's Venice Film Festival.
Cooper has already said he will not attend the premiere because of the ongoing Hollywood strike, which prevents actors from promoting their movies.
Maestro will be released in selected Irish cinemas in December and will arrive on Netflix on 20 December.
Source: Press Association, AFP
