Jill Scott Is Cool With Zoe Saldana Playing Nina Simone (Well, That Is If....)

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• ann roberts | January 29, 2013 7:59 PMReply

  I do not care dark skin light skin we all black women . I would rather see a black man with a light skin sister then with a blond white women . The black men in show biz seem to me the blacker their skin the whiter they marry as if they need the white women to light up the way so they can be send. I DO NOT THINK THAT BECAUSE WE ARE HONEST ENOUGH TO TALK ABOUT IT WE ARE HATING IT IS A FACT JUNGLE FEVER IN HOLLYWOOD IF YOU IN THE PUBLIC EYE WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO COMMENT .

• Melanie | November 24, 2012 2:25 AMReply

  It is a shame when a dark skinned female icon is being protrayed in black faced. There are many talented and beautiful dark skinned actresses that are not working because of discrimination that is prevalent in Hollywood. When was the last time Hollywood casted an actress of dark ebony hue as a leading actress in a role of such historical significance? Nina deserves better and so do we!
  She was fighting against this form of prejudice.

• MsWrite66 | November 9, 2012 3:59 PMReply

  After reading most of these comments, I hope Zoe blows this role out of the park! She's an artist that was offered a job, if she felt she could not do it justice she would have turned it down. People are making judgements without having seen the finished product. Bring a sister up (Black, Columbian, Dominican or otherwise) because we have so many trying to pull is apart!!

• Mr. Kwame | November 12, 2012 10:47 AM

  I agree with MSWRITE66. While there are other actresses who would be a better fit for the role, it saddens me that a talented actress of color is receiving the bulk of our anger. The fight should be against the larger problem of Hollywood's race politics. Hollywood is the machine, and Zoe Saldana is just a cog in that machine.
  
  Nina Simone is one of my favorite artists ever and there is no one else more deserving of a thoughtful, well researched, accurate biography. If this one misses the mark, there is nothing to say that a better one can't be made. Why not crowd source and throw our support behind some of the brilliant Black filmmakers out there to make the film that we want to see? That, in my opinion, would be far more productive than all of the angry articles, blog posts and comments that are being produced throughout the collective Black blogosphere. If we don't like this film, lets find a way to make a better one.

• Kenne | November 9, 2012 1:58 AMReply

  Jill Scott as usual is a class act! Hats off to you Ms. Scott for not tearing down another woman of color. This is the exact divisive mentality that holds us back. India Arie's comments about Zoe were hurtful and very cruel. Sometimes, it's better to just keep some things to yourself!

• George Geder | October 28, 2012 3:41 PMReply

  A large part, indeed huge, of what makes Nina Simone 'Nina Simone' is her voice, her look, and her world view. As we are discussing her look, it would be smart to consider the look of the women in her ancestry, and her DNA. Then, go find a person that closest resembles that image.
  
  Someone mentioned Diana Ross portraying Billie Holiday. That film was more about pairing Ms. Ross with Billy D. Williams. The agenda was different.
  
  Perhaps we need to determine what the agenda is for this film about Nina Simone.

• Malena | October 23, 2012 8:09 AMReply

  I think its so weird to read Zoe being called light skin. Zoe is dark skin Latina (were both brown Dominican - American women, her mother is my mom's niece) and I hear from friends in the industry this is why Hollywood cast her in black roles. But what they fail to realize is that just because in Latino culture we say were "mujer negra" (black) we mean in sense of race not culture. Zoe is taken advantage of their ignorance and hence she gets offered all these parts. She was not good in Colombiana and that role could've went to an actual Colombian actress not Dominican. All this to say there's actual African American women who resemble the part and are good actresses that should get the role. Like prior posts mentioned Lauren Hill would've been a good choice. But Hollywood continues to have whites play Latinos (Ben Affleck in Argo, Pacino is Scarface + other movies), Latino playing Italians (Andy Garcia in Godfather III, Jlo in numerous films), and Latinos playing black. How about giving minority parts to the designated race and if necessary developing new talent? I won't be seeing this movie.

• sybil | October 29, 2012 10:43 AM

  Melana Dominicans in NY deny they have African blood so be it. I hear it all the time
  She \should have turned down the role. She is wrong for the part. I advocate no one go and see this film sybil ward nyc

• Gail | October 21, 2012 4:55 PMReply

  This would be a PERFECT OPPORTUNITY to put a darker skinned actress in a leading role. Already we have light-skinned woman representing everywhere. What is the point of putting on a prosthetic nose????!!!! We have actual people who are more in the range of Ms. Simones color, at this rate why even try to make her look like someone she is not. If you are going to cast a white woman, a mixed woman or a japanese woman let them keep their actual features and not make a mockery of the people they are supposed to be portraying. I guess blackface is in, again. Thanks tropic thunder and people who think imitation is better than the real thing.

• Zaidi | October 21, 2012 3:10 PMReply

  Out of homage and respect to Ms. Simone's work and memory, I will not be going to see this film. I had the distinct pleasure of photographing Ms. Simone up close and personal, and Zoe Saldana is no Nina Simone!!! And as far as Jill Scott wanting to play Phyllis Hyman, she better put on some Height! Ms. Hyman was A Statuesque and Physical Presence!!

• sybil | October 29, 2012 10:44 AM

  Jill Scott is full of shit I ignore stupid remarks from her or anyone else who are too afraid to speak out.

• julius hollingsworth | October 16, 2012 12:14 AMReply

  i agree with Jill Scott .If Zoe is willing to do all the makeup and try and get inside what it's like to be a dark skin sister's body with full lips and nose and what society puts on deep chocolate sisters I say do you your thing. That's called acting do your thing Mama.I just can't wait for India Arie's chance to play hmmm...Beyonce.I still say Nina should be played by Ms.Hill.But that is the magic of entertainment .If it's done well I don't care.Diana Ross was wonderful in Lady Sings The Blues she didn't look like Billie Holliday but she was still wonderful.She was Diana Sands but she was wonderful.Edward Albee wanted Bette Davis for Whose Afraid of Virginia Wolf.But he got Elizabeth Taylor go figure.

• Julius Hollingsworth | October 16, 2012 12:18 AM

  I meant to say Diana Ross wasn't Diana Sands who also was up for a Billie Holliday film that Ozzie Davis was going to do ,but Diana did a wonderful job give Zoe a chance.Or do your own movie.

• robin | October 9, 2012 1:24 PMReply

  I won't be seeing this movie. The selection of a light-skinned Afro-Latina playing Nina Simone. It reflects the opinions of the directors, producers, etc. in Hollywood's color based 'racist' culture that shows the melanin terror (phobia) of this United States & the world as a whole. Although, I like Zoe as an actress & think she's very pretty, I hope it fails in the box office. This is just as ridiculous as what happened several yrs. ago when Sidney Poitier played Thurgood Marshall in the bio. of the late judge. Black is not just one shade!

• A Black Man, An African of the blood | March 1, 2013 2:33 PM

  A proud latina who's black and knows her history is beautiful. Just want to throw out some ideas:
  
  1. An "educated" black person identifies the ancestors as enslaved Africans. Not slaves.
  2. Always cautious about chastising black folks. A people 500+ years removed from their cultural memory will think and behave according to the dictates of the enslaver/colonizer(self-hatred, colorism, etc).
  3. Similar to the social construct of race and the Hispanic label, I'm cautious about labeling a people Latino. It's a Euro-American invented term.
  4. The Diaspora is the Diaspora. Don't understand the level of representation within.
  5. Keep teaching!

• proud latina whos black and knows her history | March 1, 2013 1:02 PM

  Zoe isn't light skin, she's the same complexion of a lot of black women because Zoe is BLACK. You African Americans are very ignorant. Now I know you guys can't understand English too well even though its your first language so let me break this down real Slow for you all.
  
  African Americans are saying Zoe Salanda can't play the part of Nina Simone because she's "not black",she's latina. Ima educate you ignorant "black" fools.
  
  Guess where the FIRST africans brought to America during the slave trade went? They went to the island of hispanoila.Not to the united states. I know Im losing you so Ima make this even simpler.
  
  The Africans slaves went to LATIN America on the island where one of Zoe's parents was born after the French wipedout a lot ofthe native Americans there.
  
  95% of the African slaves went to Latin America, while only 5% went to the united states and canada. So African Americans, considering how they are a minority in the diaspra have no right to determine who is black andwho is not black when the very first blacks were Latin Americans, aka latinos. Learn you're history.
  
  The island of hispanoila after Spain took over one half of the island later became the the Dominican republic and Haiti. Dominicans and haitians are descendants ofthe FIRST African slaves and and still hold on to a lot of African culture, while you have NONE.
  
  
  The sad thing is, white people don't even have to tear you people down because you discriminate again one ANOTHER. You exclude people out of the black race for having features you don't think are black enough(stereotypical features crwated by white media. Because real educated black people know that we are the most genetically diverse race ibm the world And we don't all look one day. We can light skin and we can hack dark skin, we can hace curly, wavy, and straight hair and we can have many different racial features)
  
  
  Team light skin
  
  Team dark skin
  
  You create division with in your own race. "I'm not going to accept her because she's from Europe, because she's from Africa, because she's from Latin America" you exclude members of your own race just because they happen to be from another region or country. Do Chinese people say Koreans aren't asian because the speak another language and come from a different country? Do light skin Asians say that tan skin Asians arent asian because they don't have the skin tone? Black people, mainly from the united states are the only people ignorant enough and hateful enough to discriminate against their own brothers and sisters for our minor differences when we are all the same and come same place.

• zay | October 7, 2012 1:56 AMReply

  Wow Ms scott, so we are promoting blackface now.
  
  Just get another actress already, you know one who resembles Nina Simone very much, isnt what acting is all about, we have to believe they are actually the person/character they are, they are a lot of people who resemble her who will jump at this opportunity and audition. As much as I love Zoe, not every damn black female role needs to go to her, even the ones that dont fit her casting just because she is the black female hollywood sweetheart right now, lots of other black actress need the roles. Zoe doesn't really need this role, lots of dark skinned black female actors desperately do because Hollywood looks down on dark skin, they will do whatever it takes to not have anyone who looks too "black",. You would expect a few roles like this to help some of the dark skinned struggling actors. You can tell this is a work of "light skin" privilege and also the privilege of being a beloved POC celebrity, she does not fit this role.
  
  Give dark skinned people roles of dark skinned people, thats the least they can do, since they are very few roles created for dark skinned people already . So sick of hollywood casting light skinned /biracial people as black characters, and we are made to believe "see now we are not racist, we have a token minority with half white DNA or have has European features". Nothing wrong with light skinned people getting roles, I totally love a lot of light skinned actors, but its BS when all the "black roles" are given to light skinned black people, so whats left for dark skinned black people.

• Doug | April 9, 2013 4:40 AM

  PROUD LATINA WHOS BLACK AND KNOWS HER HISTORY...simply put FUCK YOU! Who do you think you are scolding black people? And what side you you is talking, the European or the Indian side? Africans are your mothers & fathers and you wouldn't have any culture or color without Africa. And let me educate your confused latina ass...you only have variations of hair texture and skin color because of Africa...otherwise you would still look European or Indians. Zoe (weather shes a black latina or not) DOES NOT PERSONIFY THE LOOK OF THE GREAT NINA SIMONE, and we sure as hell know she can't sing like her. Whatever closeness she has in looks is due to the African....not the European or Indian thats in hispanic people! BTW...The first enslaved Africans in US territory were brought to South Carolina in 1526 by spanish people, but NOT TO LATIN AMERICA...GO LOOK IT UP DUMBASS!!!! YOUR WRONG!!!! I'M BLACK AND I KNOW MY HISTORY, DO YOU KNOW YOURS?
  
  You're so busy being arrogant & disrespectful trying to scold black people thinking you know what youre talking about but you don't, you sound so stupid and arrogant! It wasn't until 1565, the colony of Saint Augustine in Florida, founded by Pedro Menéndez de Avilés became the first permanent European settlement in North America....Now I know you can't understand english too well so let ME help your dumb latina ass out...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_in_the_colonial_United_States
  
  Put down the rice & beans and COPY & PASTE and educate yourself so in the future you won't make yourself sound so dumb!

• TooBizare | October 6, 2012 5:14 PMReply

  Bottom line- Zoe cannot convince anyone that she's Nina Simone. She doesn't look like her, she doesn't sound like her, she isn't shaped like her. AND, Zoe CAN'T ACT. To believe her acting you must suspend belief in all reality, the only reason she managed to make it worked in Avatar. Hollywood has hyped her up without legitimate cause. Worst casting decision ever.

• Cubanflowers | October 23, 2012 7:57 PM

  You made a legitement statement. .. Zoe can't act!. if she could .. i would say give her a chance... but MANY americans don't want her to play the part simply because she is Hispanic.... and somewhere in their pea brain they can't grasp the concept that their are BLACK PEOPLE across the globe not just in this cess pool called the usa!...
  
  and want somebody to tell me exactly where Zoe is light skin at?.. light skin is somebody like Alicia keys ... Beyonce... her mother.. and Tisha Campbell.... NOT Zoe!...
  
  be blessed.

• Matte | October 4, 2012 11:38 AMReply

  Why not Viola Davis, Kim Elise, Macy Gray or some new undiscovered talent? Zoe? Like her, but this ain't for you Baby.

• JP | October 3, 2012 10:11 PMReply

  No Miss Jill, Phyllis Hyman needs to be played by Jazmine Sullivan. The look. The voice. The talent. Jill should put her bid in for Aretha.

• SLC | November 9, 2012 4:17 AM

  Excellent choice for Phyllis Hyman; Jazmine Sullivan would be OUTSTANDING!!!

• Orville | October 3, 2012 8:53 PMReply

  Look Jill Scott can be politically correct all she wants but critics have a right to point out the reasons why Zoe Saldana is wrong for the Nina Simone biopic.
  
  Saldana has light skin, white features, extremely thin build, and long black wavy hair. Saldana is high profile now in Hollywood because Halle's getting old so they need a new A list black actress in her 30s. So Saldana is the one Hollywood has chosen.
  
  I also want to point out, I think Kerry Washington would also be a bad choice as well. Kerry is a good actress but I don't think she could do justice to Nina Simone either.
  
  
  Nina Simone sang passionately about the racism and discrimination she experienced as a dark skinned black woman in America. Saldana is a decent actress but this movie calls for an actress that looks similar to Nina Simone. Also, Saldana only got the part because Hollywood has placed her on the pedestal she's the new Halle Berry. Even Halle Berry turned down the Aretha Franklin biopic because she knew she couldn't do it justice. I wish Saldana would follow Berry's example and drop out of the project and give another black actress a shot at glory.

• Gtfoh | April 9, 2013 8:53 AM

  Zoe ain't light-skinned even standing next to a hunk of charcoal. She is undeniably brown. Quit playing.

• Doug | April 9, 2013 4:49 AM

  Hey Slice she is light skinned compared to Nina Simone...just scroll back up and look at the damn picture SMH!!!!!!!!!!!

• Zaidi | October 21, 2012 3:39 PM

  Hey Slice. Are you that color blinded?

• slice | October 4, 2012 2:04 PM

  Have you seen Saldana in any of her films? That woman is NOT light-skinned by any stretch of the imagination--she's a lovely dark-skinned woman who has already received a lo of unnecessary flack just for saying she's black and Latina (which she is, but, apparently a lot of people don't know that black Latinos do exist/read that as her wanting to be anything but black, when she's made it clear that she is proud of both her black and Latina heritages. I would hardly call her the new Halle Berry, as I don't think she' s even made it to that level yet, but she's getting there. And,no,she sure as hell dosen't need a fake nose or dark makeup to play the role of Nina Simone--I don't even know why Scott even mentioned something that ridiculous--I hope she was joking or had that quote taken out of context or something. (Scott happens to be one of my favorite singers,BTW).

• NO BRAINER | October 3, 2012 11:45 AMReply

  That's the only way I would be able to stomach it. She will have to undergo some serious, Rick Baker, Nutty Professor type transformation. Anything less, I will NOT see this movie and I suggest everyone who has a problem with Zoe playing the role will do the same.

• NO BRAINER | October 16, 2012 12:18 AM

  @KEITH... I know your ass isn't talking to me. I said nothing about her being dark or light skinned. Learn how to read.

• Keith | October 4, 2012 11:21 PM

  She is NOT dark skinned by African American standards, you do not know what the f**k you are talking about. Did Orville mention her ethnicity being an issue no, so stop with the red herring B.S. she's not even a decent actress anyway.

• blunt talker | October 2, 2012 11:07 PMReply

  blunt talker-This movie project is a trumped-up story using Nina's legacy. People involved are really disgusting and disrespectful towards the Simone family. Making a movie on false information according to Nina's family members is awful with evil intent to do harm to Nina's family. Zoe has made past statements about black actresses being lazy. Her mother told her she was not black. The culture she identifies and relates to is the Latin culture. She has shown some harshness towards the black community based on past interviews 2010-2011. Black people have a right to be upset with this casting choice for more than one reason. They are not allowing Nina's family any say so in this movie project. This shows disregard and unprofessionalism on everyone associated with this movie. I pray the Simone family can fight this assault on Nina's legacy by all means necessary.

• Zaidi | October 21, 2012 3:42 PM

  Hey Slice: You can be black and latina, one or the other, and still be THE WRONG CASTING CHOICE!!!

• slice | October 4, 2012 2:07 PM

  I've never read anything where Saldana actually said that---can you name some sources, please? Just to remind you, you can't believe everything you read on the net or in a magazine,for that matter. BTW, she identifies with being both black and Latina--I've never read where she's said any different.

• WiseMocha | October 2, 2012 8:03 PMReply

  Prosthetics and make up? No way, just hire an actress that favors Nina Simone! This whole thing is shameful! Forrest Whitaker was playing a psychotic dictator, and his features were close other than the complexion. Nina Simone is a Black icon who exuded what it was to be Black and proud, and you can't find a quality actress that looks like her? Whatever man!

• Donella | October 2, 2012 5:39 PMReply

  Re: Last King of Scotland, Forest Whitaker's makeup was Horrible. It looked like cheap black shoe polish from the dollar store spread by hand. Whenever he sweated, you could see the makeup staining his shirt collar. I went ahead and suspended belief so I could get through the movie.

• starry118 | October 21, 2012 4:24 PM

  Denzel favored him though, and his acting skill is superb. Let Zoe be Zoe? Well sure, if we're talking real life, or if Zoe is playing herself in her autobiography, but if she's portraying Nina Simone or someone else...no.

• Simon Tarses | October 7, 2012 12:10 AM

  And yet, people here want her skin darkened and her nose altered so that she can look exactly like Nina. Please, no.
  
  If Denzel Washington can play Malcolm X even though he was in a darker shade than Malcolm was, than Zoe can play Nina Simone as she is-it's all in the acting, not in the makeup (although a person can play somebody under a ton of makeup and still be convincing, as Lon Chaney Sr. was.)
  
  Let Zoe be Zoe, just as people were able to let Denzel be Denzel without lightening his skin.

• Troy | October 3, 2012 7:35 PM

  I fell asleep twice. That never happens even on terrible movies.

• K | October 2, 2012 4:42 PMReply

  Zoe cannot sing. She cannot play Nina Simone. What happened to Mary J. Blige? I am extremely disappointed in the selection of Zoe Saldana. No way. Nina is 100% black and Zoe is mixed. Can't be done.

• Troy | October 3, 2012 7:35 PM

  Hey Mary cannot act at all.

• Kim | October 2, 2012 11:14 AMReply

  I admire and respect Jill Scott because she's classy. And she found a classy way to basically say that such an atrocious amount of work would need to be done in order for Zoe Saldana to work playing Nina Simone. Miss Scott did not need to puncture her cool over an issue that doesn't directly pertain to her either. What would she look like talking trash about a project she's not even on or for which she was ever considered? She made a pro move.

• D.C. Kirkwood | October 2, 2012 11:35 AM

  I agree she kept it classy. She shouldn't have even been asked concerning a project that doesn't concern her. Interviewers love to stir up drama. As I said before, Nina Simone fans need to get on kickstarter and raise money along with her daughter if they want a different version told. This is not a fly by night project. It's been in the works for over a decade and when Mary J. was signed on Black folks was still complaining. It's just a movie. Her work and impact on society is still going to stand. Like damn just let it go!!!

• Boomslang | October 2, 2012 10:58 AMReply

  I wince !

• Winston | October 2, 2012 9:23 AMReply

  Jill doesn't have the same nose or body type as Hyman. She should not pursue this role.

• ALM | October 2, 2012 12:21 AMReply

  Who knows whether this is her true opinion or just a Hollywood answer. Two things may be playing into this answer: 1. "Steel Magnolias" is about to be released, so she wants all publicity/attention to be positive 2. She caused quite a stir with her stance on interracial marriages between African American men and women of other races. She may be trying to avoid controversy this time. When people give their honest opinions they are often accused of hating or being jealous, whether it's true or not. When people are attached they often will stop giving you their honest opinion and will begin giving a prepared politically correct answer. I would love to see Jill tackle Phyllis Hyman's deep life story.

• Zaidi: | October 21, 2012 3:46 PM

  Hey Troy: Go back to school, have a brain implant, or speak only when something sensible enters the cavity where your brain ought to be!

• Troy | October 3, 2012 7:38 PM

  Black people should not be remaking white movies they dont have the lack of complexion and too much shape in their bodies.

• BluTopaz | October 2, 2012 11:29 AM

  "She may be trying to avoid controversy this time."--Jill made an ass out of herself with that nonsense, I don't blame her if she's trying to stay away from bad publicity for a while.