Zoe Saldana: Overcoming Stereotypes and Embracing Her Multicultural Heritage
In Dubai, it is often those who feel like they don't belong anywhere that find their place everywhere. Zoe Saldana, an American actress, faced countless rejections early in her career simply because she didn't fit the outdated image of a "true" movie star. Now, at the age of 44, she has become a global icon, starring in the three highest-grossing films of all time: "Avengers: Endgame," "Avatar," and "Avatar: The Way of Water." Her remarkable journey proves that embracing diversity within oneself is the key to success.
Saldana, whose mother has Lebanese roots, recalls the valuable lesson her mother instilled in her: the richness of one's identity lies in embracing diverse cultures. "My mother always raised us with the belief that we can be whoever we want to be, but we are also global citizens," she tells Arab News. This upbringing nurtured her curiosity for different cultures, even though she grew up in a modest apartment in Queens, New York, with her parents and two sisters. Her family encouraged her and her siblings to not only explore their own backgrounds but also learn about the backgrounds of those they encountered.
"We may not be scholars or academics, but our family values connection," Saldana explains. "We are genuinely interested in understanding people, their origins, and sharing a meal with them. That's what it means to be Arab. That's what it means to be Latina. I can't envision life any other way."
Despite her enthusiasm for cultural exploration, Saldana's opportunities to venture beyond books and movies were limited during her early years. Currently reprising her role as Gamora in "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3," following her monumental success in "Avatar: The Way of Water," she reminisces about her childhood in New York, where she sought solace in the imaginative worlds crafted by the very filmmakers she now collaborates with.
"For nine months of the year, the streets of New York were either dangerous or bitterly cold," Saldana recalls. "We had books, we had 'The Terminator,' 'Aliens,' 'Dune,' and 'Blade Runner.' Sigourney Weaver, Linda Hamilton, and Whoopi Goldberg were my heroes. I transported myself to these places, becoming each of these characters."
During her teenage years, Saldana discovered that her childhood penchant for escapism effortlessly translated into acting skills. Her outstanding performances in youth theater groups in New York caught the attention of a prominent talent agency, seemingly guaranteeing her path to stardom. However, she soon realized that her talent alone couldn't overcome the deep-rooted prejudices and racism prevalent in the film industry. The industry perceived her multicultural background, which she embraced as a strength, as a weakness. Processing this reality proved challenging for her.
"Every time I received an exciting script and landed an audition for something incredible, I would feel elated," Saldana shares. "I would prepare tirelessly, pouring all my anxiety and panic into delivering a remarkable performance. I would nail the audition, only to receive that heartbreaking phone call saying, 'You were the best candidate we saw, but we're going with someone more traditional.' It felt like I was being pushed outside the boundaries of what society deemed normal."
Despite the obstacles, Zoe Saldana's unwavering determination and refusal to conform to societal expectations have propelled her to unprecedented success in the entertainment industry. She continues to inspire countless individuals by embracing her multicultural heritage and challenging stereotypes along the way.