Zoë Saldaña

Carlos Omar Gardinet

13 years ago

I meet Zoë Saldaña at the swanky Mandarin Oriental hotel nestled on the upscale island of Brickell Key in Miami. My first “run-in” with Zoë was back in New York City circa 2006 at the Tribeca Film Festival where she spoke on a panel alongside Rosie Perez and Mia Maestro titled “Adelante Mujeres: Latina Women at the Helm,” which focused on the trials, tribulations as well as triumphs of Latina women in Hollywood. Saldaña, unsurprisingly, is as approachable now as she was back then. I remind her of our initial face-to-face convo and although she probably doesn’t fully remember said encounter, her enthusiasm of seeing a “familiar” face makes this brown-skinned Dominicano blush. Zoë may be climbing the Hollywood ladder quickly, but her Latina charm and humility are still beautifully grounded.

The first time the world met Saldaña, who was born to a Puerto Rican mother and Dominican father in New Jersey, she was portraying a tough ballerina in the film Center Stage in 2000. The classically trained dancer wore the role like a second skin. Since then she’s played every role imaginable, from airport Trekkie and otherworldly princess to college co-ed and CIA assassin. Along the way she has managed to work with heavyweight directors like Steven Spielberg, James Cameron and J.J. Abrams. The result is a respected body of work, reputation and a star that is continuing to rise in Hollywood allowing her to carry her own film.

We sit down in an intimate hotel room and discuss everything from her rumored emotional breakdown after Avatar, fellow Dominican and BFF Junot Diaz, and of course her new film Colombiana where she plays the lead role of no-holds-barred, vengeful heroin Cataleya Restrepo.

‘LLERO: I read how exhausted you were after completing all of the press dates for Avatar; sometimes waking up and not knowing what city you were in. How are you feeling now?
Zoë: Well, let me begin by saying that it was all blown way out of proportion. Yes, I was tired but it wasn’t a breakdown. I didn’t have to go to the hospital or anything like that.

‘LLERO: I’ve been following your career from Drumline to Pirates of the Caribbean and Haven. How do you think you’ve grown as an actress?
Zoë: I feel like I just hit puberty. My leg hairs are growing (laughs). I really respect actors like Tom Hanks and Orlando Jones who always hit movie sets totally prepared. I’ve learned to not take my jobs for granted. Being a professional in this profession speaks volume[s].

‘LLERO: After your work in this current action-packed film, do you see yourself going after similar roles?
Zoë: I knew I could do an action/adventure film because of my athletic background; I just didn’t know how much endorphins my body would release after doing such [a] film. I loved it. So yes, I would do another one in a heartbeat.

‘LLERO: In regard to the film itself, what do you say to groups such as ProColombia who think the film feeds into negative stereotypes about Colombians?
Zoë: I really don’t think this movie portrays Colombians in a negative light. Everything has a negative side to it. I’m an optimist and see the glass half full. If I would’ve thought the script misrepresented women of color, whether black or Latin, I wouldn’t have done the movie or I would’ve spoken to the director, Olivier Megaton.

‘LLERO: In terms of lifework as an actor, whose career would you like to emulate?
Zoë: Whoopi Goldberg, Meryl Streep, Robert De Niro and Tilda Swinton. Hands down. They all inspire me.

‘LLERO:I know you’re friends with Junot Diaz. What did you think of “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao?”
Zoë: He sent me the manuscript before it was published and me and my family cried, cried, cried.

‘LLERO: Miramax bought the movie rights to the book. Could you see yourself in it?
Zoë: I would love it. Even though Puerto Rico and Cuba are close in proximity to the DR and we’re all Latinos, each country has its own uniqueness and differences. I would love to be a part of the film. As a Dominicana I know the nuances and subtleties of being from la isla Quisqueya.

‘LLERO: Another Star Trek feature was just announced and you’ll be playing Nyota Uhura again…!
Zoë: I know, and I can’t wait.

And neither can we Zoë. Neither can we.