Zoe Saldaña

Biography

Zoë Yadira Saldaña-Perego, born on June 19, 1978, is a prominent American actress celebrated for her significant contributions to the science fiction genre. With an impressive filmography that includes performances in four of the seven highest-grossing films ever—namely Avatar, Avatar: The Way of Water, and Avengers: Endgame—she has become a leading figure in Hollywood. Her films have collectively earned over $15 billion globally, making her the second highest-grossing lead actress and the highest-grossing actress overall as of 2024. In recognition of her influence, Time magazine included her in its list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2023.

Saldaña’s career began in 1999 with a guest role on Law & Order, followed by her first film appearance in Center Stage (2000) as a ballet dancer. She gained further attention in 2002 with the film Crossroads alongside Britney Spears. Her breakthrough came in 2009 when she portrayed Nyota Uhura in the Star Trek reboot series and Neytiri in James Cameron's Avatar. Additionally, she played the character Gamora in five Marvel Cinematic Universe films, starting with Guardians of the Galaxy in 2014.

Beyond franchises, Saldaña showcased her talent in the Netflix science fiction film The Adam Project and the romantic drama miniseries From Scratch in 2022. She currently stars as a CIA officer in the Paramount+ series Lioness and received critical acclaim for her role in the 2024 musical crime film Emilia Pérez, earning multiple nominations for prestigious awards including the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress.