As a dedicated fan of Zoe Saldaña’s captivating performances and her unwavering dedication to her craft, I am constantly in awe of her journey through the vast expanses of both real and imaginary worlds. Her ability to breathe life into characters like Gamora, Uhura, and Neytiri is nothing short of extraordinary.
Actress Zoe Saldaña has spoken candidly about her apprehensions regarding being stereotyped as a science fiction actress during her professional journey. However, she acknowledges that it was her director for the film Avatar, James Cameron, who provided her with an opportunity to play such a role.
Saldaña has been a favorite for groundbreaking cinematic experiences in the 21st century, earning significant roles in Cameron’s large-scale sci-fi eco-thriller, the rebooted Star Trek films directed by JJ Abrams, and eventually James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, where she portrayed the green-skinned alien warrior Gamora.
At a BFI London Film Festival event over the weekend, the actress who recently shared the best actress prize in Cannes for her role in ‘Emilia Pérez’ with Karla Sofía Gascón and Selena Gomez, discussed her encounter with J.J. Abrams on the set of ‘Avatar’.
She recounted, ‘I suspected he was auditioning for Star Trek.’ They were chatting, and then they arrived at the set. Jim allowed him to handle his self-made camera. I recall speaking with JJ, who said, ‘I’m going to reach out to you; I really want to discuss something with you.’ He then walked away. Moments later, Jim approached me and mentioned, ‘I just secured your next role.’
Saldaña expressed, “I went into ‘Guardians’ with a significant amount of apprehension regarding being stereotyped because it would have been my third time in that universe. It seemed like my team was concerned about me as well. However, when I read the script, there was something unique and captivating about the anti-hero, the jerk who eventually saves the day, albeit reluctantly, that I had never encountered before.
She further disclosed that Steven Spielberg helped rebuild her trust in the movie business following a challenging encounter on the Pirates of the Caribbean set under Gore Verbinski’s direction. “Mostly, the team and actors are fantastic,” she expressed. “However, if the studio, producers, and director don’t foster kindness, understanding, and thoughtfulness, then even a large-scale production can turn into a negative experience. And sometimes, you might find yourself falling overboard, which is exactly what happened to me.
Eight months after the Pirates film, Saldaña collaborated with Spielberg on The Terminal. “Following Pirates,” she commented, “he rekindled my trust.
She appeared quite emotional as she talked about her win at Cannes, which she admitted she hadn’t fully grasped the importance of. “I didn’t even understand how much I needed it,” she explained. “It can feel like you’re simply tossing spaghetti at the wall, hoping something will stick. This recognition helped me realize how unseen I had felt for so long and inspired me to search for purpose once more, in art and by loving my work. Sometimes, all you need is a sign that you’re on the right path.
The BFI London Film Festival, which screens Jacques Audiard Emilia Pérez, runs from Oct. 9-20.
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2024-10-12 22:54