*We all knew this was going to be an issue before it even came out.
Zoe Saldana has been cast to play the leading role in Nina Simone’s biopic. The casting wasn’t met without some disdain and a bit of protest, some saying that she just can’t be Nina.
Maybe the critics are right. She could be too light-skinned for the role.
While casting isn’t quite set in stone, writer and director Cynthia Mort notes that the film will simply be a telling of the singer’s love story and not a “by-the-book” retelling of her life.
“There’s a difference between telling a story that include and involves emotion and experiences and doing a biopic – she was born here, she did this, she did that,” Mort explained to the NY Times. “There is also a great story, but that’s not what we’re telling in that kind of linear fashion.”
In the meantime, Nina’s daughter, who simply goes by Simone, expressed her disappointment with the process of the film casting and story telling. She complained that neither she nor her family was consulted.
“As a child, my mother was told her nose was too big and she was too dark,” Simone said.
Further, she noted that the man who is scheduled to be Nina’s love interest was actually gay, and never had a romantic relationship with her mother.
I think Xie is a great actress but she is just a wrong fit period! She doesn’t have the aura to pull this role off. Somebody like Indie Arie or Ledisi would suit the role. I just think they would do a disservice to the legacy of Nina Simone. Her style was impeccable and like none other.
Diva007, I agree with you totally!
My damn phone, meant Zoe.
I don’t get why Saladana was picked in the first place. She has publicly stated that she does not consider herself ‘black’ or that she aims for roles that are solely ‘black’. She is entitled to her beliefs but it is ridiculous that she would play a character that she looks nothing like. In skin tone, physical attributes, singing ability, etc. Not to mention, from what I saw in her first movie, I wasn’t too impressed with her acting skills. This goes to show you that colorism is alive and well in the entertainment industry. I’m glad that Nina’s daughter spoke out about this movie.
Ooops! Meant to say, she aims for roles that are not solely ‘black’…
how about the fact that Zoe is not a good actress to pull off the role, she is just so so at best.
Inida Arie and Ledisi would be good choices( I do not know if they can act but, god choices as far as physically resembling Nina and they can sing) neither India or Ledisi would bring in the people to see the movie they are not popular enough, Zoe happens ot be on everyone’s radar right now that is why she was selected she is the IT Girl!!! or Flavor of the month at this point.
That’s the thing, babycakes. The role originally went to Mary J. Blige and she has minimal acting chops. So why not give the role to an India Arie or Ledisi? They wouldn’t because as you said, it is based on who’s hot at the moment, not whether they have the chops to pull off playing this role. If this was Frank Sinatra, do you actually think they would run out to get Michael (his last name escapes me) or Harry Connick, jr? Too much mediocrity nowadays and we continue to accept it because it has a dollar sign attached to it or a hot starlet.
Babycakes, I totally agree with you. My first pick was India Arie I hadn’t thought about Ledisi but both of these ladies are beautiful and of a darker complexion like Nina Simone and to make things even better they can sing.
They are making a movie not putting on a concert.
I don’t like Cynthia Mort’s attitude behind this, regardless what part of Nina Simone life is being told in this story it’s still Nina Simone and someone with similar features should play her. Singers have been taking on acting roles for a long time and if India Arie or Ledisi like some of you mentioned are interested in the part, with a good acting coach and dedication I’m sure they would do just fine…JMHO
You don’t know that. They probably couldn’t act their way out of a paper bag.
Oh please, Diana Ross caught a lot of flack too when got role of Billie Holiday. She prepared herself for the role by working with professionals, research and dedication. She nailed it and it lead her to an Oscar nomination. So anything is possible dude.
And now that Nina Simone’s daughter has said that some of the story won’t be true, I wouldn’t want to see it anyway. When you watch a biopic, you want it to be as close to real life as possible. You think the writers and producers of Ray (with Jamie Foxx) would have gotten Michael Ealy (as handsome as he is) to play Ray??
I truly don’t like this girl. Her acting is horrendous. I just saw her in the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie last night. I see why she wasn’t invited back for the sequels. She doesn’t have the acting skills. I found a blog she had back in 2009 where she made entries seemingly about why she benefited from being with a white man, and how her future children lives would be better. Then there is the whole my mother is Puerto Rican thing. When confronted, she denied she said it, and then angrily said her mother was Dominican with Puerto Rican and Lebanese heritage.
She may be the it girl now. Hollywood is still very shallow. Still, Zoe’s days in Hollywood are numbered. I don’t know much about Nina, but I read she was proud. Zoe has bleached her skin, which is evident from past appearances a few years ago. Even if she didn’t bleach her skin, she would still be too light. And she relaxers her hair, and evidently lacks tact, as she often speaks down to those in her own community. She has not demonstrated that she has a shred of self respect, and is offensively vulgar. What everyone needs to understand, is she is perfect for Hollywood. She is incredibly insecure and ignorant and arrogant. All of that equals an enormous ego. Those in Hollywood can get her to do whatever they want. If any of you have read her latest interviews, Zoe actually believes that she is an accomplished actress. I am in the entertainment industry, and that is not what I hear from others, including those who have worked with her. She was described to me as difficult and with an entitled demeanor. Yikes.
I am glad Nina’s daughter has spoken out. I wish people would stop being so afraid of saying the truth about Zoe. She is a poor quality actress that has deep rooted family beliefs that she can’t seem to separate from her “professional” work. Still, it is Hollywood. They may not listen to any of us, at all.
For someone who was so proud and beautiful to be portrayed by someone who obviously hates the skin she was born in, is a terrible shame. Hollywood.
@ spidey: Very interesting post. You pretty much confirmed my impression of her when I read her Ebony interview. She stated that she didn’t see any issues with the fact that black actresses do not get roles in Hollywood and it seemed she was saying that it was their own fault that they were not getting work. I didn’t understand why Ebony interviewed her in the first place when she made it quite clear that she wasn’t ‘black’ to begin with and she was mixed with this, that or the other. Dominicans are ‘mixed’ as it is but they don’t like to acknowledge the ‘African’ part. It is obvious she is insecure and as I stated above, I wasn’t too enthralled with her acting.
Please read about Nina Simone. Her life was fascinating and she made no apologies of her indentity. You can read her autobio, ‘I Put A Spell On You’ to get a better insight into her psyche. It wasn’t until after her death that it was revealed she was bipolar. She had an extraordinary life considering her circumstances.
spidey > > > I agree 100% with you. I also read her interview in Ebony and unfortunately Zoe has fallen under the hollywood spell of “as long as you don’t look black or act black, you’ll always keep working”, and aside from that this girl has no intentions of identifying with her black roots. She has no idea how confused and messed up she is.
Puerto ricans and Dominicans are nothing more than black folks with an attitude topped with some salsa. MJB wold be great but, she can’t act for shit . .
LOL!! and Mary’s singing is not that great at times either.
She can’t act, but she would be great???? HUH?????
Damn, it’s too bad Lauryn Hill is having them tax issues. She would be a great choice to play Nina. But, yeah Zoe……….smh………By the way, Spidey, thanks for that info. I knew there was something iffy about her, from day one.
Whether you resemble someone or not or light or dark means absolutely nothing. The hollywood makeup machine can fix that. The question is your acting skills…………
I always thought Heather Headley would make a great choice to portray Nina Simone.
She has the whole package to make this work. A broadway actress, singer, Tony Award
winner and not to mention,she favors Nina Simone.
However, Im not a big fan of autobiography movies, unless they show and tell something that we dont know or never heard of before.
Maybe that’s why movies for Florence Ballard, Marvin Gaye, Jackie Robinson, and Phyllis Hyman have never been made or the families dont want their legacy to be tainted. I dont blame them.
Sometimes, Hollywood just cant get it right. I rather read the book.
I like Viola Davis for this role.
I got the exact same impression as she was interviewed by Chelsea Handler…I’ve never been a fan, and dont think I would support this movie at all (as much as I would like to know more about Nina Simone) I’ll just wait until another director is not afraid to embrace the truth…after all, those make the best biopic movies ah la “Ray”
@Loise, you make $27h thats great going girl good for you! My story is that I quit working at shoprite to work online, seriously I couldn’t be happier I work when I want and where I want. And with a little effort I easily bring in $35h and sometimes even as much as $85h…heres a good example of what i’m doing, Red97dotcom
Here’s my choice of ladies that could portray Nina to the hilt:
* JacKee’
* Loretta Devine
* Mother Love I am sure she could act
* Viola Davis
* Samuel L. Jackson’s wife – Latanya Richards
* Pauletta Washington – Mrs. Denzel
* and my number one choice…drum-roll is……. Grace Jones. She has the flavor and the singing chops to do this!!!!!!!
what about Angie Stone?
And by the way, did you see Grace at the Diamond Jubilee? Sister gurl still looks good at age 60! I would hit that….lol
Grace looks wonderful for her age. Interesting choice to play nina. She’s taller than Nina but it might work. But who would play younger Nina?