Posted by | Ray Cornelius
Some new photos of Zoe Saldana as Nina Simone have surfaced showing the actress in an afro wig and signature Simone garb. Earlier this week, pictures hit the internet of her in a bath robe wearing another curly wig with indications of a prosthetic nose, mouth piece and darkened skin to make her look like Simone.
Staunch supporters of Simone have been outraged at these recent cosmetic alteration to Saldana, who is of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent. Many feel the director of the film should have simply cast an African American actress who resembles the beloved jazz and folk singer.
In other Nina news…stage and film actor Kevin Mambo will join the cast as Gille, a French guitarist and member of Simone’s band. You may remember him as afro-beat pioneer Fela Kuti in the award winning Broadway musical Fela.
Mambo, who is a trained musician, has also appeared in Cadillac Records and the now cancelled soap opera Guiding Light. He is currently in the touring version of the musical, The Book of Mormon.
Nina takes a look at Simone’s rise to fame and her estranged relationship with her allegedly gay manager Clifton Henderson.
