Zoe Saldana has finally broken her silence on her controversial turn as legendary singer Nina Simone in the biopic Nina.
In an interview for Allure, Saldana claims that, " There's no one way to be black." Saldana goes on to say, "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. Don't you ever think you can look at me and address me with such disdain."
According to the article, Saldana says the accusations that she is too "pretty" to play Simone sadden her. Saldana also reveals that she turned down the part for over a year and she felt more uncomfortable with the fact that she feels that she is apolitical, and was approached about portraying the very political Nina Simone.
However, despite the controversy, Saldana is still pleased with her decision to portray Simone in the film. "The script probably would still be lying around, going from office to office, agency to agency, and nobody would have done it," she says continuing, "The fact that we're talking about her, that Nina Simone is trending? We f-ing won. For so many years, nobody knew who the f--k she was. She is essential to our American history. As a woman first, and only then as everything else."
Nina, was released amidst the controversy in April of this year.