Name: Zoë Yadira Saldaña Nazario (professionally known as Zoe Saldaña; sometimes credited as Zoë Saldaña-Perego)
Introduction: Zoe Saldaña is an American actress known for her powerful and versatile performances, particularly in major science fiction film franchises where she often portrays strong female characters. She holds the unique distinction of starring in four of the seven highest-grossing films of all time, making her one of the most commercially successful actresses in history.
Date of birth: June 19, 1978
Height: 5 feet 6.5 inches (1.70 m)
Place of birth: Passaic, New Jersey, U.S. (She was raised in Queens, New York City, and spent part of her childhood in the Dominican Republic).
Family:
- Parents’ names: Aridio Saldaña (father, Dominican) and Asalia Nazario (mother, Puerto Rican). Her father passed away when she was nine years old. Her mother later remarried Dagoberto Galán.
- Siblings: Cisely Saldaña Nazario (sister) and Mariel Saldaña Nazario (sister). Both are involved with her production company, Cinestar Pictures.
- Spouse: Marco Perego-Saldaña (m. 2013). He is an Italian artist. He took her last name after they married.
- Children:
- Cy Aridio Perego-Saldaña (son, born November 2014, twin)
- Bowie Ezio Perego-Saldaña (son, born November 2014, twin)
- Zen Anton Hilario Perego-Saldaña (son, born December 2016)
- Relatives: Her sisters Cisely and Mariel, and her husband Marco. She also has Lebanese and Haitian roots through her ancestry.
Profession: Actress, producer, dancer, voice actress.
Nationality: American (She identifies as Afro-Latina, with Dominican and Puerto Rican heritage).
Religion: She has stated that she finds her “church” and “religion” within her family. She was raised in a spiritual household.
College or university attended: She studied dance at the ECOS Espacio de Danza Academy in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, focusing on ballet, jazz, and Latin dance. She later returned to Queens and graduated from Newtown High School in 1996. She also performed with the Faces theatre group in Brooklyn.
Biography and What Famous For:
Zoe Saldaña’s early life was influenced by her move to the Dominican Republic after her father’s death, where she immersed herself in dance, particularly ballet. This rigorous training instilled in her the discipline and physical grace that would later define her acting style. Upon returning to New York in her late teens, she transitioned from dance to acting, seeking to “use her voice.”
She made her film debut in the ballet-themed drama “Center Stage” (2000), where she played a talented but outspoken ballet student, perfectly combining her dance background with her burgeoning acting skills.
Zoe Saldaña is famous for starring in some of the highest-grossing films of all time, particularly within the science fiction genre, making her a global superstar:
- “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” (2003): Her role as Anamaria introduced her to blockbuster audiences.
- “Star Trek” franchise (2009-2016): She captivated audiences as Nyota Uhura in J.J. Abrams’ rebooted Star Trek films (“Star Trek” (2009), “Star Trek Into Darkness” (2013), “Star Trek Beyond” (2016)), showcasing her ability to portray an intelligent and capable character in an iconic role.
- “Avatar” franchise (2009-present): Her most iconic role as Neytiri, the fierce Na’vi warrior, in James Cameron’s groundbreaking film “Avatar” (2009). This film became the highest-grossing film of all time, and she reprised her role in “Avatar: The Way of Water” (2022) and is set to return for future sequels. Her performances, largely through motion capture, are critically acclaimed.
- Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) (2014-2023): She became a fan-favorite as the deadly green-skinned assassin Gamora in the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films (“Guardians of the Galaxy” (2014), “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” (2017), “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” (2023)) and the “Avengers” films (“Avengers: Infinity War” (2018), “Avengers: Endgame” (2019)). Her portrayal brought depth and humor to the character.
These roles have collectively grossed over $15 billion worldwide, cementing her status as one of Hollywood’s most successful and in-demand actresses.
Beyond blockbusters, Saldaña has shown her versatility in other genres:
- “Columbiana” (2011): An action film where she played a vengeful assassin.
- “The Adam Project” (2022): A sci-fi comedy.
- “From Scratch” (2022): A Netflix limited series where she also served as an executive producer.
- “Emilia Pérez” (2024): A musical crime comedy, for which she received critical acclaim and an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.
In 2018, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Saldaña is also a producer, having co-founded Cinestar Pictures with her sisters, focusing on diverse narratives. She also founded BESE in 2018, a digital media company dedicated to celebrating Latinx culture and amplifying Latinx voices. She is a vocal advocate for diversity and inclusion in Hollywood, women’s empowerment, and mental health awareness.
Have participated (Selected Filmography, Television, and Other Ventures):
Film (Actress):
- Center Stage (2000) – Eva Rodriguez
- Crossroads (2002)
- Drumline (2002)
- Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) – Anamaria
- The Terminal (2004)
- Guess Who (2005)
- Vantage Point (2008)
- Star Trek (2009) – Uhura
- Avatar (2009) – Neytiri
- The Losers (2010)
- Takers (2010)
- Columbiana (2011)
- Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) – Uhura
- Out of the Furnace (2013)
- Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) – Gamora
- Infinitely Polar Bear (2014) – Maggie
- Star Trek Beyond (2016) – Uhura
- Live by Night (2016)
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) – Gamora
- Avengers: Infinity War (2018) – Gamora
- Avengers: Endgame (2019) – Gamora
- The Adam Project (2022)
- Amsterdam (2022)
- Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) – Neytiri
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023) – Gamora
- The Absence of Eden (2024) – (also Executive Producer)
- Emilia Pérez (2024) – Rita
- Avatar: Fire and Ash (Upcoming)
- Avatar 4 (Upcoming)
- Avatar 5 (Upcoming)
Television:
- Law & Order (1999) – Belinca (guest)
- Six Degrees (2006-2007) – Regina
- Rosemary’s Baby (2014) – Rosemary Woodhouse (miniseries)
- From Scratch (2022) – Amy Wheeler (limited series, also executive producer)
Voice Acting:
- The Book of Life (2014) – Maria (voice)
- Missing Link (2019) – Adelina Fortnight (voice)
- Vivo (2021) – Rosa (voice)
- Maya and the Three (2021) – Princess Maya (voice)
Production:
- Co-founder of Cinestar Pictures
- Executive Producer for “From Scratch” and “The Absence of Eden.”
Digital Media:
- Founder of BESE (2018)
Awards and Achievements (Selected):
- Saturn Award for Best Actress (“Avatar”, 2010)
- Teen Choice Awards: Choice Movie Actress – Sci-Fi (“Star Trek Beyond”, 2016), (“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2”, 2017)
- Hollywood Walk of Fame Star (2018)
- Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People (2023)
- Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture (“Emilia Pérez”, 2025)
- Academy Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role (“Emilia Pérez”, 2025)
- Numerous nominations for other awards including Critics’ Choice, Black Reel, Imagen, and Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Zoe Saldana Photos: