Zoe Saldana gets stuck into Nina Simone role as she shields made-up face with umbrella on film set

PUBLISHED: 00:30 EST, 27 October 2012 | UPDATED: 00:30 EST, 27 October 2012

She was recently spotted for the first time as the late legendary singer Nina Simone, a character she is playing in her latest film venture Nina.

And Zoe Saldana looked like she is really getting stuck into the role on Thursday as she recorded further scenes.

The 34-year-old actress could be seen in Los Angeles after most likely enduring hours of hair and make-up to get her aesthetic right.

In the shade: Zoe Saldana was seen on the set of Nina in Los Angeles on Thursday

Walking amongst the crew members, she was sure to protect the thick theatrical foundation on her face from the harsh sunlight.

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Zoe crossed over to the area where she would be doing her work holding an umbrella to provide an area of shade.

She kept the canopy tilted to an angle so that the warm weather did not melt the products which are being used to give her a darker skin tone.

Protect the make-up: She was careful to tilt the umbrella in front of her face

Under wraps: Zoe covered up her outfit with a robe as she worked with the film's crew

The screen siren is also believed to be wearing a prosthetic nose to liken her more to the musician.

The item would have no doubt helped keep her head cool too as she donned an afro-style wig over her own tresses.

Saldana also held on to a bottle of water to quench her thirst in the Californian heat.

Hot-headed: The star is also sporting an afro-style wig

She covered her costume by wearing a black robe and UGG boots in between scenes, at one point fashioning a stripy blue dressing gown.

And the star kept the trusty umbrella with her at all time, even toting it when the sun was not at its hottest along with her mobile phone.

It was probably a wise move as last week her make-up seemed to deteriorate into a less even tone as she fought against filming in the heat.

The movie tells the story of the late jazz musician and classical pianist including her rise to fame and relationship with her manager Clifton Henderson.

Can't stand the heat: Last week her make-up appeared uneven

Big shoes to fill: Zoe plays the late singer Nina Simone

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Heather Headley would make a great Nina or the lead singer from M People.

- Jackie , London, United Kingdom, 27/10/2012 20:42

Click to rate Rating 17

Why was Diana Ross permitted to pull off Judy Garland in "the Wiz" without backlash? Why do we have Black Santa's and Christ's? Are your minds so dead that you cannot permit one artist from performing another artist without having a perfect visual? Cartoon crowd, all of you.

- Valerie , Oregon USA, United States, 27/10/2012 20:17

Click to rate Rating 29

Halle Berry is better for this role I think. Or even Thandie Newton who was great in the movie with Will Smtih (the one that made me cry buckets!)

- w_endi1 , london, United Kingdom, 27/10/2012 19:32

Click to rate Rating 33

It's a shame. There are enough talented black actresses around whom could have play the part. Therefore it's crazy they spend enduring hours enduring hours of hair and make-up to get her aesthetic right. Everything is wrong about this choice for the part.

- Jossy , Amsterdam, 27/10/2012 19:10

Click to rate Rating 44

Nina Simone had such a beautiful, rich voice. Is Zoe going to be lip-synching?

- Sher , JAX FL - USA, United States, 27/10/2012 17:40

Click to rate Rating 19

An actor's appearance in a movie role always matters, but even more so in a biography film. All of the hair and make-up experts in the world won't make her look anything like Nina Simone. But we're not supposed to say that or we'll be accused of being racist, no matter what our ethnicity.

- Lucky , Pacific Northwest, United States, 27/10/2012 17:34

Click to rate Rating 30

This role belongs to Viola Davis who is closer to Nina and is a phenomenal and beautiful actress. I don't think Zoe has the chops for this role. It's like Beyonce playing Etta James, despite the complexion similarities. To the colour obsessed: It's about a lot more than just colour. But you would never understand that.

- Jameka , New York, 27/10/2012 17:05

Click to rate Rating 55

Well I hope she proves you guys all wrong - she's beautiful and a great little actress. Maybe a directors saw something deeper in her (or not). Sometimes you gotta look beyond the surface.

- anon , anon, 27/10/2012 15:46

Click to rate Rating 20

Nina was at the forefront of the civil rights movement of the sixties, the woman 'wore her colour' with pride ~ And being a dark-skinned African American suffered her share of disillusionment with racial discrimination first-hand, despite being unquestionably one of the most gifted classical pianist and singer-songwriter's of her generation ~ she like Josephine Baker before her abandoned her own country in unforgiven disgust to live and work abroad. It is for this reason, I feel she would have strongly, in no uncertain terms dug her heels in to be portrayed by someone who more resembled her in features ~ Understand the woman and where she came from, then you'll understand why Zoe Saldana is severely miscast.

- Tell it like it is , London, United Kingdom, 27/10/2012 14:54

Click to rate Rating 51

This is just like someone wearing blackface, Zoe is clearly unsuitable for this role and Im sure if Nina was alive, she would agree.

- su6690 , london, 27/10/2012 13:44

Click to rate Rating 44

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