The Nina Simone Biopic That Has Infuriated Her Family and Fans

The imminent release of a Hollywood movie based on the life of Nina Simone, the iconic black pianist, singer, and civil rights activist, has reignited a debate over the casting of Zoe Saldana, an actress of Dominican descent who had to dramatically alter her looks, by darkening her skin and wearing a prosthetic nose, to play the starring role.

When it was first announced in 2012 that Saldana had been chosen, Lisa Simone voiced her strong objections. “My mother was raised at a time when she was told her nose was too wide, her skin was too dark,” she told Tanzina Vega of the New York Times. “Appearance-wise this is not the best choice.”

She was not alone. “A large part of Nina Simone’s work and advocacy was prompted by the challenges she faced for having dark skin and being rejected or criticized because of it,”"

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The Nina Simone Biopic That Has Infuriated Her Family and Fans: