The Real-Life Legend Zoe Saldana Regrets Playing On Screen

Nina Simone, dubbed the "High Priestess of Soul," was an African-American singer and songwriter who first captured national attention in 1959 with her debut album "Little Girl Blue," which featured her now-famous cover of "I Loves You, Porgy." In addition to music, Simone was an active, and often controversial figure, in the civil rights movement. She combined both passions in the tracks "To Be Young, Gifted, and Black" and "Mississippi Goddam," which was her response to the murder of fellow civil rights activist Medgar Evers. Simone's activism, however, resulted in a radio boycott of her music in the American South as well as being blacklisted from music venues. In many ways, it was Simone's activism and struggles as a Black woman in a segregated United States that caused the uproar surrounding Zoe Saldana's involvement in "Nina."

Much of the controversy focused on Saldana's appearance. For many, Saldana — whose ethnic background includes Dominican and Puerto Rican ancestry — did not fit the image of Nina Simone. Additionally, the filmmakers outfitted Saldana with darkening makeup, a prosthetic nose, and fake teeth to more closely resemble the late singer. Upon the 2012 release of behind-the-scenes footage of the movie's filming, Grammy-winner India Arie sent an open letter to a fan site dedicated to Nina Simone. Speaking about the letter years later with The Hollywood Reporter, Arie criticized the use of the makeup and prosthetic nose to alter the actor's appearance. Arie called the cosmetic use "black(er) face," alluding to the old tradition of white actors wearing black makeup to ridicule Black people.