Zoe Saldaña On the Essentials She Keeps In Her Bag, from Her New iPhone 16 Pro to Legos

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Following my triumphant win of an Oscar for portraying a disenchanted attorney in “Emilia Pérez,” I, Zoe Saldaña, am eagerly diving into a character that feels more relatable to me.

Actress Quyen “Lioness” Nguyen draws inspiration from her actual-life job as a family packhorse for a T-Mobile ad campaign. In this commercial, the 46-year-old actress portraying Na’vi in “Avatar” learns she can obtain an iPhone 16 gratis by switching to their wireless service without needing to exchange another device first – yet she feels compelled to make a contribution.

Or, more concisely:

Quyen Nguyen (also known as Lioness) leverages her real-world role as a family’s porter in a T-Mobile ad, where she learns about getting a free iPhone 16 upon switching to their service without trading in another device. Despite this, she still feels the need to contribute something extra.

She mentions that she feels it’s necessary to reciprocate for karmic reasons before presenting a box containing raisins, a balloon, and an oddly included banana peel, seemingly from her Cuyana Paloma tote bag (this larger version was famously seen with Meghan Markle). Saldaña proceeds to empty the contents of her bag, revealing a collection of items such as red El Yucateco hot sauce, assorted toys, a green apple, numerous hair ties, Altoids mints in a tin box, skincare products, a mini yogurt drink, and other typical mom items.

Saldaña expressed that working on her second collaboration with T-Mobile was incredibly enjoyable for her. Having had a fantastic experience during their initial project, she eagerly accepted the invitation to star in another commercial. When she read the script, she was thrilled because it centered around something as everyday and relatable as what’s inside a mom’s bag.

Saldaña and her spouse, the Italian artist Marco Perego-Saldaña, are parents to a trio of boys aged 10 (the twins) and an 8-year-old. They’ve shared that their kids have been inquiring about getting personal phones.

She explains to THR that the phone is essentially serving as a means of communication with her 10-year-olds currently. “We’re content with repeating our message,” she adds, “‘You’ll get it eventually, but for now, anything you might need from a phone, we can offer.’ At this point in time, my children are experiencing a phase where they discuss wanting the phone, but when we do hand it over to them, all they want to do is look at their baby photos.

Next up, Saldaña will be heard voicing Aunt Olga in Pixar’s movie Elio (opening June 20), and she will once again play Neytiri in Avatar: Fire and Ash (releasing Dec. 19, with a runtime slightly longer than The Way of Water).

In this piece, the Oscar-winning actress reveals the contents of her current handbag (ranging from beauty items to reading materials), discusses how these items supported her during the hectic Emilia Pérez press tour, and talks about her strategies for managing screen time with her three children. Keep reading to discover her travel essentials, along with product suggestions inspired by Saldaña’s favorites.

“What are some of the strangest items you’ve ever discovered in your bag unexpectedly? I once unearthed quite a bit from my bag while standing at the T-Mobile spot.”

Wow, let me tell you, I’m no stranger to the chaos in my bag! It’s a treasure trove of snacks in various containers, some of which have a mysterious cheesy scent that never fails to delight me. You’ll often find Legos and pieces of my sons’ Legos tucked away, providing a surprising bit of joy during my travels.

My bag has seen its fair share of laundry too, from clean socks to dirty ones. Once, I even had a solitary shoe make an appearance. And don’t get me started on the times I’ve left the house with all the car keys!

I’ve also been known to walk out with other people’s cell phones, not my own, and have encountered some pretty strange items along the way. One time, I even had an ant invasion in my bag! It’s a wild ride, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

One of my sons has a peculiar habit: he asks me to hold onto small leftovers from his meals, like bits of sandwiches or banana peels, saying ‘Save this for me.’ Often, these remnants end up in my bag.

What do you keep in your bag for yourself that helps you stay on top of your creativity?

My buddy handed over his talismanic coin to me. While I personally believe that our fate is in our own hands, there are moments when I encounter individuals who are more superstitious than myself, and I choose not to challenge their beliefs. Thus, I received his lucky coin in January, and I felt incredibly fortunate throughout the entire period.

As a dedicated gamer, I’ve got my Kindle by my side wherever I go, it’s my constant reading companion. However, when I’m not engaged in active tasks, I tend to doze off easily. This has made traditional reading a bit of a struggle for me. But fear not, I’m still a bookworm at heart, and audiobooks have become my savior. They let me ‘read’ numerous books while I’m taking a break or doing less strenuous activities.

During the entire Emelia Pérez tour, I found solace in reading multiple books. My friend then gave me permission to read not one but two books simultaneously. She said, “Why limit yourself to just one book? Read two at a time, and you’ll be okay.” I managed to keep up with both narratives.

Currently, I’ve got two books on my reading list. One is titled “Hello Beautiful” by Ann Napolitano, the other one is “The Love We Found” by Jill Santopolo. Prior to these, I finished “Think You’ll Be Happy” by Nicole Avant and “Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow” by Gabrielle Zevin. I also read the autobiographies of Britney Spears and Barbara Streisand. Since they narrated their own audiobooks, I find listening to them quite engaging. Whether at home or on-the-go, whether taking the kids to school, driving for an hour, or even working out, I’m usually tuned into an audiobook. It helps me channel my characters and stay immersed in the story. In fact, I often try to get others to listen to it as well!

Since you travel often, what are some of your must-haves when you’re on the go?

Blotting paper!

I’ve been fond of lip plumpers, introduced to them in the early 2000s, and I can’t resist anything that gives my lips a tingly feeling! Plus, living in California means dealing with its dry climate, so I prefer having at least four or five different types of moisturizers on hand.

I wish I were more organized, however, my top priority lately has been ensuring that none of my children are forgotten. Consequently, everything else is taking a backseat right now, as my children are my top travel essentials at the moment. They’ve traveled extensively and have their own necessities, but they seem reluctant to carry them! Currently, their must-haves include balls, Transformers, and sunglasses. Hats, just in case they decide to wear one, but they rarely do.

We’re just porters.

We function as a 24/7 personal assistant service, ready to help, shop, arrange playdates, or give opinions, but remember, the important “no” is also part of our vocabulary. I’ve learned its importance when my children were young, as modern and progressive parenting advice might suggest saying yes often, but the word “no” kept me safe. So, I am learning to embrace the word “no” once more. No, dear. No, thank you!

Since we’re on the topic of tech, what’s your approach to screen time with three kids?

My children are acting more mature than their actual age, reminding me of the characters in the movie “Y Tu Mamá También”. I’m finding it hard to keep up as they grow quickly, fall in love, and start reading books without pictures – which they refer to as textbooks, a term that’s endearing. They also seem to enjoy movies starring Adam Sandler and Will Ferrell, although we do need to be selective about what they watch!

Currently, the phone serves as our dialogue with 10-year-olds. We’re comfortable reiterating the message: “You’ll get one someday, but for now, all that you might require from a phone, we can supply for you.” At this moment, my children are experiencing a phase where they discuss it often. However, when we give them the phone, their primary interest lies in viewing their early photos.

Speaking of tech, what are your go-to phone features or apps?

I must admit, my spouse and my sibling have more experience in intimate matters compared to me. As for myself, I’m quite open-minded – currently exploring apps to enhance my knowledge. No, I assure you, there’s nothing exciting about me!

I really appreciate phones with excellent cameras, as I’m passionate about preserving moments from my life. During the commercial, I repeatedly mentioned the iPhone 16, and they were incredibly generous in providing me with a phone. Since I’m not particularly knowledgeable about the differences between them, I asked for the model that boasts the best camera.

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2025-05-30 02:55