12 Most Ridiculous Biopic Castings Of All Time
8. Zoe Saldana - Nina Simone (Nina)
There's a ton of cinematic potential in a Nina Simone biopic, so it was enormously disappointing to see 2016's Nina panned as a bland, rote biopic, and surrounded by controversy for Zoe Saldana's absurd casting as the legendary singer.
Because she bore little natural physical resemblance to Simone, Saldana was given an afro wig, a prosthetic nose and false teeth to play the part. The real kicker, though, was having her decidedly lighter skin darkened.
There was widespread outrage at the studio effectively casting a "hot" actress in the part rather than one who could convincingly play Simone without a host of arguably racist parlour tricks.
Simone's own daughter offered surely the most damning criticism: "My mother was raised at a time when she was told her nose was too wide, her skin was too dark. Appearance-wise this is not the best choice."
Saldana really tries to make it work, but this was just the wrong way to go.