Zoe Saldana One unique woman!
Whether she’s speaking out against Hollywood’s sexism or kicking butt on film sets, Zoe Saldana has a talent for no-holds-barred moments – and inspiring the masses in the process. Here, some of the most memorable words from the starlet.
I like to be around people who are passionate. People that won’t fight, but will be overprotective and outspoken about their opinion, their point of view and their ideas.
On acting
“I want to be in the small percentage of women who don’t settle for conventional roles.” “You need 100% commitment; you have to be willing to wake up every morning knowing you’re going to practice for eight hours straight.” “I grew up loving action movies and films that were set in supernatural, unimaginable places. So I take being a woman in the film industry who is able to do action movies very seriously, because I’m making the kind of movies that I wanted to watch as a kid, and that inspired me and are the reason as to why I’m here.” “I’m a sci-fi girl. If I can have anything in life, I’d want tons of great science-fiction movies and stories. It’s so progressive, beautiful and imaginative.” “As an artist, I like working with filmmakers that have the guts to imagine the unimaginable. Those are the kind of radicals that I identify with.”
On love and relationships
“I’ve been in relationships where a man has disrespected me, and I don’t need to be friends with that man anymore. I don’t want to be the one going, ‘I’m cool, because I’m friends with all my exes.’ There’s a reason why you’re called an ex. I crossed you off my list. Moving on. You cross a line, you need to know that you’re going to walk this earth knowing that there’s an individual who has no respect for you.”
“Don’t settle. If you’re not happy with a person, leave. Wait until you find that one person who makes you feel good about yourself every single day and is not expecting you to change, but to grow.”
On her mother, asalia nazario
“I have an amazing mother who’s a real tough cookie. She taught me not to get emotional about sexism in Hollywood, just be really practical and objective. Later, in the privacy of my own home, maybe I’ll bawl or break some dishes, but you just have to keep going. It’s not about fighting, it’s about educating.” On roles she’d love to play “I would love to play Queen Nefertiti, Cleopatra or the Queen of Sheba. We preserve more male history than we do female. We have to preserve female history. No more complaining. We have to do it.”
On her 20s and getting Older
“My 20s were great. Who didn’t have fun in their 20s? But my attention was more out there, more about the surface and the cosmetic stuff. I was always thinking, ‘ What do I need to do?’ Now, in my 30s, it’s, ‘ What do I want to do?’ I’ve just become more solid with my own identity. Yes, your 20s are fun, especially at night – better parties, better cocktails… not better sex, though. Absolutely not. And whoever says that is lying, because sex in your 30s and beyond is out of this world.” “I’m very accepting with my age. It’s like notches on your belt: experience, wisdom and a different kind of beauty. There comes a day when you’ve become comfortable in your own skin.”
On dance
“Being a former classical dancer, it informed me as a human being just in terms of grace. Ballet is a very graceful form of art. You also become aware of your body, and how it works in conjunction with your mind. That helps you in acting as well. It’s not only using your mind, it’s making your mind communicate this character into your body so that you can bring it to life and physicalise it.”
“People think of Latina women as being fiery and fierce – which is usually true. But I think the quality that so many Latinas possess is strength. I’m very proud to have Latin blood.”