In the post-enlightenment Europe of the 19th century the highest authority was no longer the Church. Instead it was science. Thus was born racial anti-Semitism based on two disciplines regarded as science in their day - the 'scientific study of race' and the Social Darwinism of Herbert Spencer and Ernst Haeckel.
I think any actor in their right mind is afraid of getting pigeonholed.
I don't want to be pigeonholed into doing just romantic comedies. But they're fun and especially for women it's nice to go to see them and enjoy that breath of fresh air.