Zoe Saldana, born on 19 June 1978 in Passaic, New Jersey, is an American actress renowned for her roles in science fiction and action films. Raised in a bilingual household by her Dominican father, Aridio Saldana, and Puerto Rican mother, Asalia Nazario, she spent her early years in Jackson Heights, Queens, New York. Following her father’s untimely death in a car accident when she was nine, Saldana moved with her family to the Dominican Republic, where she discovered her passion for dance and trained at the ECOS Espacio de Danza Academy, focusing on ballet.
Returning to New York City in her late teens, Saldana joined youth theatre groups, which led to her first on-screen appearance in an episode of Law & Order in 1999. Her film debut came with Center Stage (2000), where she portrayed a ballet dancer, seamlessly blending her acting and dance talents. She gained further recognition with roles in Crossroads (2002) and Drumline (2002).
Saldana’s career reached new heights with her portrayal of Nyota Uhura in the Star Trek reboot series, beginning with Star Trek (2009) and its sequels. In the same year, she starred as Neytiri in James Cameron’s groundbreaking film Avatar, a role she reprised in Avatar: The Way of Water (2022). Her involvement in these franchises solidified her status in Hollywood.
In 2014, Saldana joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Gamora in Guardians of the Galaxy, a role she continued in subsequent MCU films, including Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019). Her performances contributed to the global success of these films, with several ranking among the highest-grossing movies of all time.
Beyond her franchise roles, Saldana has showcased her versatility in various genres. She appeared in the romantic drama The Words (2012), the crime thriller Out of the Furnace (2013), and the action film Colombiana (2011). In 2022, she starred in the science fiction film The Adam Project and the romantic drama miniseries From Scratch, both for Netflix.
In 2023, Saldana took on the lead role of a CIA officer in the Paramount+ spy series Special Ops: Lioness, further expanding her television presence. In 2024, she starred in the musical crime film Emilia Pérez, for which she won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress and received a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Throughout her career, Zoe Saldana has demonstrated a remarkable ability to embody diverse characters across a range of genres, making her one of the most influential and successful actresses in contemporary cinema.
Zoe Saldana: At a Glance
- Date of Birth: 19 June 1978
- Age: 46
- Place of Birth: Passaic, New Jersey, USA
Zoe Saldana: Merchandise
Zoe Saldana Video Clips
Click here to check out Zoe Saldana on YouTube
Zoe Saldana: Credits
Please note that the credits listed above are only those relevant to DATV.co.uk. For a full list of Zoe Saldana credits please see her IMDB page here.
