Zoe Saldaña is a powerhouse actress who's been in the acting scene since 2003. Though she is an accomplished actress, it was actually ballet that drew her into the acting world. After her father died when she was nine, Saldaña and her family moved back to the Dominican Republic, where her mom signed her up for ballet classes. Her ballet skills help her land her first major film role as ballet dancer Eva in Center Stage. Since her debut in 2001, she's acted in dozens of films and TV shows and has expanded her credits to include producing and writing.
She has become a bit synonymous with sci-fi action flicks, as she's appeared in the Star Trek remake, the ongoing Avatar series, and Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy. She grew up enjoying the genre, saying, "I'm very proud to say I am a geek. But I'm kind of a cool geek. I grew up in a very sci-fi home, so I've seen a lot of sci-fi movies..." Many of the roles Saldaña accepts are strong female characters. In an interview with Honey and Lime, she reflected on movies from her childhood and how there wasn't a focus on female protagonists.
When it comes to female roles, she said, "We don't write women accurately...When you see a real woman, you shouldn't be saying she's strong, you should be saying she's real."
Maybe it's that mindset that attracted her to working with Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan. The actor-turned-TV genius has been continuously praised for his portrayal of strong female characters in Yellowstone and its prequels. His latest series, Special Ops: Lioness is even centered on women in the CIA. Saldaña stars alongside Oscar winner Nicole Kidman and Hallmark darling Jill Wagner as three powerhouse females working covert ops in the military.
Even though her roles have varied over the years, Saldaña is showing no signs of slowing down. Outside of Special Ops: Lioness, she is slated to reprise her role in Avatar for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th movies, as well as additional film roles.
With so many film credits to her name, here are the 12 best Zoe Saldaña movies.
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
Disney/Marvel
Saldaña plays Gamora, the mythical creature who is the "deadliest woman in the galaxy." In the movie, the outer space clique of misfit characters decide to come together to try and save the universe from the big bad Ronan and his quest to destroy it.
Where to watch: Disney+
Star Trek (2009)
Paramount Pictures
Even though Saldaña is a self-proclaimed "geek," she never saw the original Star Trek before getting cast as Lieutenant Nyota Uhura in the remake. In the original 1996 series, Uhura was played by Nichelle Nichols, who broke ground as the first black leading lady in space. The J.J. Abrams-directed reboot follows James T. Kirk in 2233 as he descends into deep space. Kirk is guided by Mr. Spock in his and the crew's newest adventure.
Where to watch: Paramount+
Avatar (2009)
WETA/20th Century Fox
Saldaña took center stage in 2009, with the release of Star Trek and Avatar. The groundbreaking Avatar takes place on the planet of Pandora, which is home to the native Na'vi people. The chief of the Na'vi is the father of Neytiri, who is played by Saldaña. Neytiri eventually befriends Jake Sully, a paraplegic marine who is tasked with interacting and learning about the Na'vi people.
Avatar became the highest-grossing film of all time, raking in over $2 billion. The movie was nominated for 131 awards and took home 89 awards. Saldaña was even nominated for an SFX UK award for the film.
Where to watch: Disney+
Columbiana (2011)
Sony Pictures/Magali Bragard
In this thriller, Saldaña stars as Cataleya, a young woman who witnesses her parents' murder in Columbia. After seeing a drug lord kill her family, she spends her life training to be an assassin, hoping to exact revenge on the killers. The movie was full of high-action scenes, for which Saldaña did many of her own stunts. She even won the 2012 Teen Choice Award for Choice Actress in an Action Film for her role.
Where to watch: Starz, Spectrum, Sling
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Disney/Marvel
The powerhouse action Marvel film brought together the Avengers squad and other superheroes in the universe to defeat supervillain Thanos. Even though Saldaña's character Gamora meets a tragic end in this movie, her character lives on in Avengers: Endgame thanks to differing timelines. Infinity War was just one of Saldan's highest-grossing films, earning a whopping $2.05 billion.
Where to watch: Disney+
Rosemary's Baby (2014)
NBC
This two-part miniseries was an adaptation of the 1967 horror novel Rosemary's Baby, previously adapted into the well-known Mia Farrow film. Saldaña plays Rosemary Woodhouse, a woman who longs for a baby but tragically suffers a miscarriage after relocating with her husband from New York to Paris. After arriving, the two befriend their neighbors, and after becoming pregnant again, fear the neighbors will stop at nothing to get her baby.
Where to watch: Hulu
Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)
20th Century Studios
Fans of the original Avatar waited 13 years for the sequel, which debuted in 2022. Saldaña reprised her role as Neytiri, who is now Jake Sully's wife. Though things have been peaceful on Pandora, trouble begins to brew, and Jake must work with Neytiri to eliminate a threat to Pandora and the Na'vi people. This film was an immediate hit at the box office and was immediately praised for its stunning underwater visuals.
Where to watch: Disney+
Nina (2016)
Suzanne Tenner/Nina Productions LLC
Saldaña showed off her acting and singing chops in this well-made biopic of Nina Simone. The movie focused on the jazz singer's rise to fame, as well as her interpersonal relationships.
Where to watch: Roky, Tubi, Spectrum, Rent on Prime Video
Drumline (2002)
20th Century Fox/Zade Rosenthal
The early 2000's comedy centers around a Harlem drummer (Nick Cannon) who is recruited to lead the drumline at a Southern university. Saldaña plays the love interest and lead dancer, Laila. Though Saldaña has a dance background, she had to learn all of the hip-hop moves that she performed.
Where to watch: Disney+
Infinitely Polar Bear (2014)
Sony Pictures/Claire Folger
The film focuses on a family where the father, Cam, is diagnosed with bipolar disorder and eventually has a mental breakdown. When Cam's wife (Saldaña) institutionalizes him to get the treatment he needs, she is left to care for the couple's two girls. When he is released, he is responsible for taking care of the girls while Saldaña pursues her dreams, and the family must work to rebuild their relationship.
Where to watch: Rent on Prime Video
The Book of Life (2014)
Kevin Estrada/20th Century Fox and Reel FX Productions
This is Saldaña's first animated movie, where she plays Marla, the main character's love interest. The story focuses on a young man, Manolo, and his journey to three alternate worlds. He must decide whether to please his family or follow his own path. The movie was a hit with adults and kids and was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best-Animated Film.
Where to watch: Hulu, Disney+
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