US actress Kristen Bell has quit the voiceover role of a mixed-race character in the animated series ‘Central Park’.

She voiced the aspiring comic book artist Molly, whose father, voiced by Leslie Odom Jr, is black and mother, voiced by Kathryn Hahn, is white.

The show’s team have come forward to apologise and promised to ‘do better’ in terms of representation.

The 39 year-old announced the news on Instagram to her 14.4 million followers.

She said: “Playing the character of Molly on Central Park shows a lack of awareness of my pervasive privilege.

“Casting a mixed race character with a white actress undermines the specificity of the mixed race and Black American experience. It was wrong and we, on the Central Park team, are pledging to make it right.

“I am happy to relinquish this role to someone who can give a much more accurate portrayal and I will commit to learning, growing and doing my part for equality and inclusion.”

The show added that a new actress will be found for Molly’s voiceover role and that Bell will be recast into a new role.

In a statement, the show said: “We’re committed to creating opportunities for people of colour and Black people in all roles, on all our projects — behind the mic, in the writers room, in production, and in post-production.

“Animation will be stronger for having as many voices, experiences, and perspectives as we can possibly bring into the industry.

“Our shop and our show will be better for respecting the nuances and complexity around the issue of representation and trying to get it right.”