Zoe Saldana

Zoe Saldana lights up the screen in all her movie roles and is a favorite of photographers – her photo galleries display an exotic beauty, and indeed, she is. Of Afro-Dominican descent, Zoe was born in New Jersey in 1978 but mostly raised in the Dominican Republic. She returned to the States to pursue her acting career and is very much aware of her heritage, citing her mother as her chief role model, and stays conscious of her screen persona as a character who breaks down social barriers.

Zoe’s effectively balanced both the indie movie scene and the big blockbusters – both have earned her a reputation as an actress with range who can pull off any part given her. She’s one of Britney’s pals in “Crossroads,” Anamaria in the first “Pirates of the Caribbean,” the cute immigration employee in Spielberg’s “The Terminal,” Ashton Kutcher’s girlfriend in “Guess Who,” and numerous parts in indie films along the way. She’s building notice off her solid acting work, and as she rounds 30, chances are she’ll have a breakout role soon – and probably a Supporting Actress Oscar within the next decade.

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Zoe Saldana on the Screen

In her first movie role, she has second billing as the rebellious dancer in “Center Stage,” followed by another dance musical, the Kirsten Dunst teen flick “Get Over It.” Appearances in bigger movies followed, with supporting roles in “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” and “The Terminal.” More recently, Zoe’s career has got a massive boost from big movies like J.J. Abrams’ “Star Trek” reboot, James Cameron’s “Avatar,” and other action flicks like “The Losers” and “Colombiana.”

Zoe Says

On her mother:
“She does everything – she managed to raise three girls by herself and live in a country not her own and still love and respect it.”