Zoe Saldaña is one of the most prominent action actresses of this generation, and she is one of those names that you can not help but appreciate her performance in the film. Her versatility and acting chops make her the perfect actress to star in films of different genres. No matter what the genre is, Saldaña can not stop herself from giving a memorable and iconic performance that becomes synonymous with her name.

Zoe Saldaña

With a career that’s far from over, Zoe Saldaña has given numerous smash-hit blockbusters with films such as Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, Avatar, and even lending her voice in animated films. However, she has opened up about the issue of misogyny present in the film industry and how she felt lonely while being on the sets of her film because there were so few women.

Zoe Saldaña Felt Lonely on The Set of Her Films

Zoe Saldaña is not afraid of showcasing her talent in a wide genre of films, and she does not hold back in displaying her combat talent in her films. In addition to making a name for herself in the action genre, she is a serious actor and a voice actor as well. She is living the dream. While she normally makes headlines for her roles and films in 2017, she made headlines as she opened up about the issue of misogyny and racism in the movie industry.

Zoe Saldaña as Neytiri in Avatar

During the exclusive interview with Time, the Vantage Point actress, who grew up to a Puerto Rican mother and Dominican father, was considered to be “too dark or too light” for a plethora of roles in Hollywood. The actress expressed her disappointment to the industry, as it tends to use racism as a major plot device, and how it is glamorized.

“I’ve been disappointed before. Racism is often used as a plot device. Sometimes it’s glamorized.”

The actress shared how she started her own production company called Cinestar Pictures, she explained how she often found herself “outnumbered” by men, both on and off screen, while filming. She added how she felt “lonely on set,” as there were very “few women on the crew,” and how she could not work with a female director due to lack of opportunities and unequal pay.

Zoe Saldaña in Special Ops: Lioness

“I feel lonely on set. And it’s not just that you’re the only woman in the cast. There are very few women on the crew. You hardly ever get to work with a female director. Some female producers try to blend in with their male colleagues and won’t stand up to them. You’re completely outnumbered. And you take a hit in your paycheck as a woman too. I’m so f—ing tired of it.”

While Zoe Saldaña has expressed her disappointment and detests to the industry about the presence of misogyny and sexism, she took a bold decision that put her career at stake.

Zoe Saldaña Sparked Criticism With One of Her Iconic Roles

Bold career choices in the cut-throat industry can either make one’s career or end it before it even begins. Zoe Saldaña encountered this moment when she was going to portray the role of jazz icon Nina Simone in Nina. The controversial casting decision sparked a sea of criticism, a majority of them being about cultural misappropriation, and how the actress did not resemble the icon.

Zoe Saldaña in Nina

Initially, the actress was bombarded with criticism for her portrayal, and she was accused of wearing blackface and a prosthetic nose. Despite the criticism, the actress faced the critics proudly affirming her decision, and how she cultivated respect and love for Simone. During an exclusive interview with Allure via Complex, she asserted her feelings and the jazz icon was an important part of American history.

“For so many years, nobody knew who the f— she was. She is essential to American history. As a woman first, and only then as everything else.”
As for her skin color, she said in the same interview, how they do not get to comment on her ethnicity and address her with disdain.

“There’s no one way to be black. I’m black the way I know how to be. You have no idea who I am. I am black. I’m raising black men. Don’t you ever think you can look at me and address me with such disdain.”

While the film did not perform well at the box office, Zoe Saldaña expressed her regret for doing the 2016 film.