Trivia

Had done an intense nonstop six-month preparation for Avatar (2009) including martial arts, archery and horseback riding.

Her favorite teen movie while growing up was L'amour à l'envers (1987).

Likes to play strong female characters. And said in an interview with a Danish film-site that she was really looking forward to evolving her character Nyota Uhura into a stronger, kick-ass lady in future Star Trek (2009) sequels.

Revealed on Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) that she is often mistaken for Thandiwe Newton. Even her own mother once mistook the two of them.

Has three sons with her husband Marco Perego: twins Cy Aridio Perego-Saldana and Bowie Ezio Perego-Saldana (b. 11/27/14 in Los Angeles). They are named after artist Cy Twombly and singer David Bowie; and Zen Perego-Saldana (b. 12/12/16).

Her father was Dominican and her mother is Puerto Rican.

In June 2013, she married her boyfriend of three months Marco Perego. They married in a secret wedding ceremony in London, and he decided to take her surname upon marriage.

She had a smaller role in Pirates des Caraïbes : La Malédiction du Black Pearl (2003), and was set to star in the sequels, but never did. When filming the final scene of Pirates des Caraïbes : Le Secret du coffre maudit (2006), the cast were told an "old friend" would return and the actors were led to believe that Saldana would be the one coming back. However, it was Geoffrey Rush. The actors were misinformed in order to get real authenticity in their faces. Zoe never did reprise her role.

Returned to work seven months after giving birth to her twins Cy and Bowie to begin filming Star Trek : Sans limites (2016). Also returned to work two months after giving birth to her son Zen to begin filming Avengers: Infinity War (2018).

While filming The Words (2012), she began a relationship with co-star Bradley Cooper, which ended in January 2013. She also starred with him in Les Gardiens de la Galaxie (2014), Les Gardiens de la Galaxie Vol. 2 (2017), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Avengers: Endgame (2019) and Les Gardiens de la Galaxie Vol. 3 (2023).

Sang with Diego Luna on the song "No Matter Where You Are" for the soundtrack of La légende de Manolo (2014).

Attended and graduated from Newtown High School in Queens, New York City.

She began her dance training at ECOS Espacio de Danza Academy, but describes ballet as her passion. She gave up ballet because she did not "have the feet", and had too much pride and ambition to just be in the corps de ballet.

To prepare for her role as Nyota Uhura in Star Trek (2009), she meet with Nichelle Nichols who played the same character on the original series. She had not seen the original series before she was cast in J.J. Abrams' remake.

In 2021, Zoe publicly reclaimed the original and correct spelling of her second name - "Saldaña". She explained that before appearing in her first movie Danse ta vie (2000), her manager had advised to change her second name. Her miniseries Maya and the Three (2021) marks the first time Zoe's name is credited as "Zoe Saldaña".

In Steven Spielberg's Le Terminal (2004), her character Dolores Torres has revealed to be a huge fan of Star Trek. Saldana went onto be cast as Nyota Uhura in Star Trek (2009) produced and directed by J.J. Abrams.

Was eight months pregnant with her son Zen when she completed filming Chasseuse de géants (2017).

Admires Whoopi Goldberg and Angelina Jolie.

Saldana and her Star Trek (2009) co-star Rachel Nichols both went onto work with Stephen Lang. Saldana, with Lang in Avatar (2009); Nichols, with Lang in Conan (2011).

She was engaged to actor Keith Britton from June 2010 until they ended their relationship in November 2011 after eleven years. Saldana also co-founded the website My Fashion Database with Britton, and they are business partners in the website.

In September 2020, Saldana, along with Elizabeth Banks, Rory O'Malley, Amy Schumer and Amber Heard, used her social media presence to participate in the VoteRiders #IDCheck Challenge to help spread the word about voter ID requirements for the 2020 U.S. Presidential election.

She was included in FHM magazine's list of '100 Sexiest Women in the World' in 2010 (#24) and 2011 (#91); Maxim magazine's Hot 100 Women in 2008 (#42), 2009 (#29), 2010 (#3), 2011 (#37), 2012 (#45), 2013 (#38), 2014 (#29), 2016 (#100), 2019 (#100) and 2023 (#100); and People magazine's annual 100 Most Beautiful People in the World, Beauty at Every Age section, for age 28 (2007).

Says she's a sci-fi geek who just happens to dress nice.

She and her co-stars Karla Sofía Gascón, Adriana Paz and Selena Gomez were awarded Knights of the National Order of Arts and Letters by the Government of France on October 3, 2024 for their services to the film industry.

She is the first (and to date, the only) actress in history to star in four films that made more than two billion dollars at the box office: Avatar (2009), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Avengers: Endgame (2019) and Avatar : La Voie de l'eau (2022).

She has appeared in three films that have been nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Avatar (2009), Avatar : La Voie de l'eau (2022) and Emilia Pérez (2024).

Was on the Time 100, a list of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine. (2023)

Her films have grossed more than $15 billion worldwide.

Currently resides in New York City and Los Angeles, California.

Speaks English and Spanish fluently.

She endorsed the candidacy of Vice President Kamala Harris for her presidential campaign. (2024)

In July 2016, during an interview with Net-a-Porter's The Edit, she revealed that she has Hashimoto's thyroiditis, an autoimmune disease, along with her mother and sisters. To combat this disease, Saldana said she and her husband adhere to a glutton-free and dairy-free diet. She also has dyslexia.

In 2017, she founded BESA, a digital media platform designed "to combat the lack of diversity into mainstream media" with an interest on positive stories within the Latino community. She also serves as chief executive officer and editor-in-chief of the platform.

She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6920 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on May 3, 2018. Director James Cameron and her longtime friend Mila Kunis were guest speakers at the ceremony.

Is a supporter of FINCA International, a nonprofit microfinance organization based in Washington, D.C.