Biographies on television or the silver screen are a tricky thing because, no matter how well you act, if you don’t embody and resemble the historical character you are working to simulate, then the piece will not work.
That is the problem that some fans are having with talented thespian Zoe Saldana playing the legendary singer Nina Simone. To have a mocha-toned sister with African features portrayed in a major motion picture by a lithe, Hispanic-black woman has some fans up in arms.
There is no question as to whether or not Saldana (Drumline) can pull this off, and there are those who don’t even want her to try. Many are insulted that Hollywood, as usual, shied away from the plethora of mahogany-hued actresses in Hollywood who could have been cast for the Nina Simone role in favor of the caramel-coated woman who doesn’t look like her subject in any way that, say, Jamie Foxx did with Ray Charles. Even Will Smith was nominated for an Oscar for his performance as Muhammad Ali, who share skin tone and somewhat similar features.
Below are definitely characters who have come into question as to whether they came close to capturing the aura and essence of the subjects they portrayed. Most came up short. Way short.
Check out who we are referring to.
