Zoe Saldana is known for her work in science fiction film franchises, having starred in four of the highest-grossing films of all time, including Avatar, Avatar: The Way of Water, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.
Films she has appeared in have grossed more than $15 billion worldwide, making her the highest-grossing film actress as of 2024.
Saldana began her acting career in two 1999 episodes of Law & Order.
Her first film role was in Center Stage (2000), where she played a ballet dancer.
Saldana received early recognition for her work opposite Britney Spears in the road film Crossroads (2002).
In 2009, she achieved a career breakthrough with her roles as Nyota Uhura in the Star Trek film series and Neytiri in James Cameron’s Avatar.
Saldana also played the green-skinned warrior princess Gamora in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, from Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023).
Net worth | $40 million |
Date of birth | June 19, 1978 |
Profession | Actress |
Nationality | American |
Background
Saldana was born on June 19, 1978, in Passaic, New Jersey.
Her parents are Asalia Nazario, a Puerto Rican mother, and Aridio Saldaña, a Dominican father.
Saldana was raised in Queens, New York, in a bilingual environment.
After her father’s untimely death, she, along with her two sisters, Cisely and Mariel, moved to the Dominican Republic to live with their late father’s family.
Saldana’s upbringing in a multicultural environment, blending Puerto Rican and Dominican heritage, has significantly influenced her identity and career, allowing her to seamlessly transition into a wide range of roles in the entertainment industry.
Net worth
Saldana’s net worth is estimated to be around $40 million.
This impressive figure reflects her successful acting career, with notable roles in blockbuster movies like the Guardians of the Galaxy and Avatar series.
Despite her substantial wealth, there have been discussions about her potentially being underpaid for certain projects, such as the Avatar movies.
Saldana has not only excelled in her acting career but has also been dedicated to promoting diversity in Hollywood through her organization, BeSe.
Salaries
Saldana’s salary per movie has varied throughout her career.
For the first Guardians of the Galaxy film, she reportedly received approximately $100,000.
However, for Guardians Vol. 3, Saldana earned a paycheck of $2 million, making her the second-highest-paid star in the film with Chris Pratt, $7 million, coming in at number one.
In the Avatar movies, she earned $4 million for her starring role in James Cameron’s Avatar.
It is unclear what she earned for the first film, but rumor has it that she was extremely underpaid compared to her co-stars.
The salaries for Avatar 2 and 3 have not been revealed by a reputable outlet.
In the first Guardians of the Galaxy film, Saldana earned around $100,000.
In contrast, for Guardians Vol. 3, she received a significantly higher salary of $2 million, making her the second-highest-paid star in the film.
Chris Pratt, who also starred in the film, earned $7 million.
In the Avatar movies, Saldana’s salary was $4 million for her leading role in James Cameron’s Avatar.
However, the exact amount she earned for the first film is unclear, and there are rumors that she was underpaid compared to her co-stars.
The salaries for Avatar 2 and 3 have not been disclosed by a reputable source.
Real estate
Saldana has recently made headlines for her real estate transactions.
In 2023, she sold her Beverly Hills mansion, located in the gated Hidden Valley Estates neighborhood, for $16.5 million.
She had purchased the property in 2016 for $8.7 million, and it features a tennis court and 6,400 square feet of living space, including five bedrooms and seven bathrooms.
The interior of the home was recently remodeled with modern influences, incorporating imported stone and custom wood details.
In early 2023, Saldana also purchased a historic Spanish Colonial-style estate in Montecito, California, for $17.5 million, marking a significant discount from the original asking price of $18.9 million.
The five-bedroom home, built in 1930, is an architectural treasure with pristinely preserved period details and features a library, formal dining room, tennis court, pool, spa, cabana, guest cottage, art studio and garages.
The property is located in the exclusive Golden Quadrangle neighborhood of Montecito, offering sweeping views of the sea and the Santa Ynez mountains.
Saldana and her husband, Marco Perego-Saldana, are known for their affinity for Italian design, as evidenced by the curvy furniture and playful use of color in their Beverly Hills home.
Despite her success in the film industry, Saldana has expressed feeling creatively stifled by repeatedly playing the same character in franchise films.
Career
Saldana is known for her roles in blockbuster films and her work with major actors, actresses and industry insiders.
When she was ten, her family moved to the Dominican Republic, where she discovered a passion for performance dance and began training at the prestigious ECOS Espacio de Danza Dance.
Saldana’s dance training and experience in theater groups like Faces and the New York Youth Theatre helped her land her first on-screen part as Eva in the dance film Center Stage (2000).
She has since appeared in numerous films, including Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), The Terminal (2004) and Guess Who (2005).
Her career reached new heights in 2009 when she played Uhura in Star Trek and Neytiri, the Na’vi princess, in James Cameron’s Avatar, a role that brought her character to life through motion capture technology.
Saldana’s work in Avatar has been groundbreaking, as the film has revolutionized the movie industry with its visual effects.
She has also been involved in producing media for film and television through her production company, Cinestar Pictures LLC, which she formed with other partners in May 2006.
In addition to her acting and producing career, Saldana is known for her fashion sense and has become a fashion icon.
She frequently attends fashion weeks around the globe and is often spotted on the red carpet.
Awards and recognitions
Saldana has received several awards and recognitions for her work in the entertainment industry.
She was nominated for the Black Reel 7th Annual Television Awards for her role in From Scratch and has been recognized for Outstanding Supporting Performance in a TV Movie/Limited Series.
Additionally, Saldana was nominated for the Critics Choice Super Awards for Best Actress in a Superhero Movie for her performance in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
Furthermore, she received a nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role at the Oscars 2023 for her role in Everything Everywhere All at Once.
These accolades highlight Zoe Saldana’s talent and versatility as an actress.
Philanthropic works
Saldana is known for her philanthropic work, particularly in the areas of children’s development, well-being, and confidence building.
She has been involved with organizations such as Brave Beginnings, Shot@Life, The Haiti Relief Inc, FINCA and The Step Up Network.
Brave Beginnings focuses on bringing essential life-saving equipment and services to seriously ill children and their families.
Shot@Life is a campaign of the United Nations Foundation that aims to ensure children around the world have access to life-saving vaccines.
The Haiti Relief Inc works to provide disaster relief to Haiti after the earthquake, focusing on distributing medical supplies, food, clothing, and other necessary items, as well as rebuilding schools, medical clinics and hospitals.
FINCA is an organization designed to alleviate poverty through job creation and improving living standards and Saldana has participated in their Lend a Hand campaign.
The Step Up Network works to empower young women from underprivileged backgrounds by offering effective after-school programs and influential mentorships.
Saldana has also been involved in raising awareness about autism.
In 2011, she directed the short film, Kaylien, to raise awareness about the condition, and has engaged with organizations such as Actors For Autism, Autism Speaks and the annual event Light It Up Blue.
In 2021, Saldana received the Andrea Bocelli Humanitarian Award for her philanthropic work.
The Andrea Bocelli Foundation’s mission is to empower people and communities in situations of poverty, illiteracy, and distress due to illness and social exclusion, promoting and supporting projects that help overcome these barriers and drive people to express their full potential.
Personal life
Saldana is married to Perego, and they have three sons together.
Their children are twins Cy and Bowie, who are 9 years old, and Zen, who is 7 years old.
The couple values privacy regarding their children and has kept them out of the spotlight for most of their lives.
Saldana and Perego are dedicated parents who strive to create a gender-neutral environment for their boys, emphasizing the importance of raising compassionate and respectful individuals.