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Rumor has it that Zoe Saldana has been tapped to play legendary songstress, Nina Simone in her upcoming biopic. Nina Simone fans have voiced their disdain in choosing someone like Saldana to play the “Feeling Good” songbird and I completely agree. There’s so many actresses that deserve a shot to play a role as complex and soulful as Simone. I honestly thought that Mary J. Blige was supposed to play Simone.

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More critics think Saldana is too “pretty” or not “black” enough, but that’s not necessarily what I think. An exceptional actress can execute a role without fully matching the look of who they are to play. I just feel that there’s more women of color out there than the young and hot Saldana to play Simone.

Check out this short list of black actresses that should be considered to play Simone in her biopic.

Adepero Oduye

Lauryn Hill

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Genevieve Nnaji

Anika Noni Rose

Viola Davis

Who do you think should play Nina Simone? Sound off in the comments below!

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