Zoe as Nina: For the Glory or the Green?

Actress Zoe Saldana and singer/activist Nina Simone

 

When it was announced that Zoe Saldana would be playing Nina Simone in a biopic, it was obvious that the casting would be problematic. A few days ago, these pictures surfaced of Saldana on set:

 

"Zoe Saldana is black, so why can't she play Nina? Is it because she's Latina?"

 

Saldana's ethnicity isn't why she's the wrong choice for the role, and as soon as the words "she's too light for the role" come out, people are ready to dismiss complaints. Her being a lighter shade of brown than the legendary singer is only the tip of iceberg of why casting directors could have picked someone different. She looks nothing like Nina Simone! The face shape, the nose, the lips--nope, nope, nope.

"It doesn't matter that they don't look exactly alike. That's what movie make-up is for."

No one is asking for someone who looks exactly like her.  How hard would it have been to find an actress who more closely resembles Nina Simone? Someone's whose face wouldn't have had to be covered in plastic and darkened with make-up? Why go with the black actress with the lighter skin tone and less defining features? It's so much deeper than that and people would rather explain it away than see the underlying issue (that definitely plays into the Hollywood trend of "light is right"--in which darker-skinned actresses have to fight harder for roles), which is...well...sad. 

"Well, maybe she was just the superior actress."

For a movie that the Simone's family didn't even authorize, maybe she was (Mary J. Blige was originally cast as lead). This is something often heard to explain mis-matched "colorblind" casting (or whitewashing in general--another topic for another day), and people need to stop using it as an excuse. Especially with so many talented actors of all races and shades running around, going unnoticed because they aren't "IT."

Seeing people actually argue about this was eye-opening to me, and I had to step out of my own head because as a black woman, I've always been exposed to the way colorism affects the community, whether people want to admit it or not.

Backing up to the film being unauthorized by Simone's family, the late singer's daughter had this to say about the casting to Ebony magazine:

"I love Zoe Saldana’s work…As an actress I respect her process, but I also know that there are many actresses out there, known or not, who would be great as my mother. One actress that I’ve had in my heart for a very long time, whose work I’m familiar with already, is Kimberly Elise. Many people have spoken to me about Viola [Davis]. I love her look. I love her energy."

So why didn't Saldana turn down the role instead of joining on the side of people claiming "reverse racism" (*eye roll*) is why people don't want her playing the part?

Is she so eager to play an icon that looks (or the family's wishes) don't matter? Or is it a money thing? She's an A-list actress right now so that's seems unlikely.

 

What do you think about the Zoe Saldana as Nina Simone controversy?