Biography
Who is Zoe Saldaña?
Early life and background
Zoë Yadira Saldaña Nazario was born on June 19, 1978, in Passaic, New Jersey. She grew up in the Queens borough of New York City. Her mother, Asalia Nazario, is of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent. Her father, Aridio Saldaña, was Dominican.
When Zoe was nine years old, her father passed away in a car accident. Following this event, she and her two sisters, Cisely and Mariel, moved to the Dominican Republic to live with their father's relatives. Her mother stayed in New York to work and support her daughters' education at a private school in the Dominican Republic.
Dance and acting beginnings
Zoe discovered a passion for dance while living in the Dominican Republic. She studied at the ECOS Espacio de Danza Academy, though she focused primarily on ballet. She eventually stopped ballet training because she wanted to pursue more than just a role in a dance corps.
Her transition into acting began with performances in Brooklyn with the Faces theater group. She also worked with the New York Youth Theater. A role in a production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat helped her secure representation from a talent agency.
Major film career
Zoe Saldaña achieved significant fame through several big film franchises. She played the character Nyota Uhura in the Star Trek reboot series starting in 2009. That same year, she starred as Neytiri in James Cameron's Avatar, which became a big global success.
She also joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Gamora, appearing in five different films including Guardians of the Galaxy. Her versatile work includes roles in the action thriller Colombiana, the crime drama Out of the Furnace, and the science fiction film The Adam Project. She also appeared in the musical crime film Emilia Pérez, for which she earned an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Personal life and honors
Zoe Saldaña is married to Marco Perego. She has received numerous prestigious honors throughout her career. These include an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award. She has also been recognized on the Time 100 list of influential people.
Her achievements include a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and being named a Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres. She has also won a SAG Award and a BAFTA Award for her work in the film industry. Her professional impact has been noted by Time magazine in both 2023 and 2026.
Birthday and age
Zoe Saldaña was born on June 19, 1978, which makes Zoe 48 years old today. That birthday falls under the Gemini sign. Zoe shares the date with 37 other famous people.
Explore more
