Zoe Saldaña on Seeing ‘Terminator’ Aged 7, Having the Wrong-Shaped Feet and Wanting to Direct: ‘Give Me That Camera!’
Actor Zoe Saldaña reflected on her career, her identity and her ambitions to direct in a public conversation at the Locarno Film Festival, where she received a Special Honorary Pardo. Best known for major franchises including "Star Trek," "Guardians of the Galaxy" and "Avatar," and an Oscar winner for "Emilia Perez," Saldaña is also recognised as the actor whose films have collectively earned the most money at the box office, giving her remarks about branching into directing added weight.
Saldaña spoke about her childhood moving between New York and the Dominican Republic, and how the cultural adjustment shaped her, as well as her early ballet training, which ended because she had the "wrong-shaped feet." She said this sense of feeling like an outsider informs her performances in science-fiction roles such as Neytiri in "Avatar" and Gamora in "Guardians of the Galaxy." She also discussed her return to television via "Rosemary's Baby" and the third season of Taylor Sheridan's "Lioness," which she credited her manager Rick Yorn for bringing to her, alongside her upcoming role in the fourth "Avatar" film.
In short
- Saldaña discussed her career and life at Locarno Film Festival honour event
- She said she wants to direct: "Give me that camera!"
- Talked childhood, ballet training and roles in "Avatar" and "Lioness"
Explained simply
Zoe Saldaña is an actor whose roles in Star Trek, Guardians of the Galaxy and Avatar have made her a familiar face in major film series. She won an Oscar for Emilia Pérez, and her films have earned more at cinemas worldwide than those of any other actor.
Saldaña grew up between New York and the Dominican Republic and trained in ballet before turning to acting. She has said that moving between cultures and feeling like an outsider helped her understand characters who do not quite fit in, including Neytiri in Avatar and Gamora in Guardians of the Galaxy.
Directing is a possible next step in a career that has so far been mainly in front of the camera. Her experience working on large productions gives context to that ambition, while her continued acting roles include television dramas and the forthcoming fourth Avatar film.
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