Zoe Saldana

The Marvel star, who is of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent, wore a prosthetic nose and skin-darkening make-up for the role.

Simone's estate refused to endorse the film, and the late singer's daughter questioned the casting decision.

In a new interview, originally broadcast live on Instagram, Saldana said: "I should have never played Nina.

"I should have done everything in my power with the leverage that I had 10 years ago, which was a different leverage, but it was leverage nonetheless.

Speaking at the Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 premiere, the actress, who plays Gamora, talked about the involvement of Guardians stars in the Avengers films.

Asked about the third Avengers film on Monday, she said: "I think the Guardians just shot their part when it comes to Infinity War.

"And we all have to go back for Gauntlet later this year."

But later on Tuesday, James Gunn, writer and director of the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, denied Saldana had given the game away.

Saldana said during an interview with The Edit that she has Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

"Your body doesn't have the energy it needs to filter toxins, causing it to believe that it has an infection, so it's always inflamed," Saldana said. "You create antibodies that attack your glands, so you have to eat clean."

Saldana's sister and mother also suffer from the disease.