Seeing an actor like Zoe Saldana do such a great job representing herself and your community is a feeling like no other. Being multiracial there are very few depictions or accurate representations that one can relate to.
That said, there are many actors out there that would play an awesome Nina Simone without having to commit blackface in the process. Opportunity is not being given to black actors of darker complexion. That is what Nina Simone stood for in part, equality and acceptance of all. Less discrimination against people of darker complexions. To then see that a afrolatina actor is being painted black as opposed to hiring someone more qualified to play the role like Mary J Blidge, who dropped the project, or Jennifer Hudson.
I am not the only one outraged by this… Lets take to twitter :
The official witter for the estate of Nina Simone tweeted this after a quote tweeted by Zaldana.
.@zoesaldana Cool story but please take Nina's name out your mouth. For the rest of your life.
— Nina Simone (@NinaSimoneMusic) March 3, 2016
it later continued to post better candidates for the role that is already in post production.
India Arie portraying Nina Simone: Come Ye – Video Dailymotion https://t.co/tKFxtR8bmy
— Nina Simone (@NinaSimoneMusic) March 3, 2016
Here is the official Trailer for the BioPic of Nina Simone.
-JB
Boy it really looks like this was a pretty ill-conceived project and the reviews of the film seem to reflect that. To do this film without the support and input from her family was probably a big part of the failure of the project. I’d be curious to know how this all happened and why they decided to not give input or were not included/invited?