Zoe Saldana is revealing why she'd never play Nina Simone today. During a chat with creator Steven Canals, the 42-year-old actress expressed regret over her choice to play the iconic singer in the 2016 biopic .Saldana's casting in the film was controversial at the time, largely because the actress had to darken her skin and wear facial prosthetics for the role.«I should have never played Nina.