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Marvel's Zoe Saldana apologises for playing Nina Simone in tearful interview

Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

From Digital Spy

Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy star Zoe Saldana has apologised for playing Nina Simone in 2016 biopic Nina, after she received a backlash for her casting.

The actress, who has also starred in the rebooted Star Trek films and Avatar, has shared a behind-the-scenes video on Instagram of an interview she took part in this week with Steven Canals, the co-creator of Pose.

When talk turned to Saldana's portrayal of musician and civil rights activist Simone, for which the actress wore skin-darkening make-up, the actress tearfully admitted that she "should have never played Nina".

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"I should have done everything in my power with the leverage that I had 10 years ago – which was a different leverage but it was leverage nonetheless – I should have tried everything in my power to cast a Black woman to play an exceptionally perfect Black woman," she said.

"You're growing. It's painful. I thought back then that I had the permission because I was a Black woman, and I am, but it was Nina Simone and Nina had a life and she had a journey that should have been, and should be, honoured to the most specific detail."

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Praising "honest" Simone and her talents, Saldana said that "she deserved better" and added: "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry". She went on to say that "somebody else should step up" and tell her story.

"I just want her story to be told and I want it to be right, because she deserves it and America deserves it," she said, adding that she is "still learning" and promising that she is open to conversation.

Watch Saldana's full comments on playing Simone from 34:27 here:

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Back in 2016 Saldana, whose parents are from Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, spoke about how unhappy she was about the backlash to her casting as Simone, saying that there is "no one way to be Black".

"I'm Black the way I know how to be. You have no idea who I am. I am Black. I'm raising Black men," she said. "Don't you ever think you can look at me and address me with such disdain."

She also argued at the time that she had wanted to ensure Simone's story was told, saying that "the script probably would still be lying around" if she hadn't taken the job.

"I made a choice. Do I continue passing on the script and hope that the 'right' Black person will do it, or do I say, 'You know what? Whatever consequences this may bring about, my casting is nothing in comparison to the fact that this story must be told'," she said.

The biographical film, which was written and directed by Cynthia Mort, and also starred Selma's David Oyelowo, portrays Simone in the late 1980s and was met with criticism by many.

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