HISTORY OF ACTRESS ZOE SALDANA

Zoe Saldana was born in New Jersey and raised in Queens, New York. When she was 10 years old, she and her family moved to the Dominican Republic where they would live for the next 7 years. While living in the Dominican Republic, Zoe discovered a keen interest in performance dance and began her training at the prestigious ECOS Espacio de Danza Dance Academy where she learned ballet as well as other dance forms. Not only did her training provide an excellent outlet for the enthusiastic and energetic youngster, it would also prove to be a fortunate precursor for the start of her professional acting career. At age 17, Zoe and her family moved back to the United States where her love for dance followed and an interest in theater performance became stronger. She began performing with the Faces theater troupe which put on plays geared to provide positive messages for teens with themes dealing with issues such as substance abuse and sex. These performances not only gave her valuable experience but also a source of great pride knowing that she was making a difference in the lives of young people like herself. While performing with the Faces troupe and also the New York Youth Theater, Zoe was recruited for a talent agency and her dance training years before coupled with her acting experience greatly helped her land her first big screen role as "Eva Rodriguez", the talented and headstrong ballet dancer in the film Center Stage (2000).
Since her professional career began just a few years ago, Zoe's talent and determination has allowed her to be involved in blockbuster films and act with major actors, actresses and industry insiders at a pace that very few young professionals have experienced. Zoe has not only held her own in major motion picture productions but gained the respect and praise from industry insiders such as Jerry Bruckheimer and Steven Spielberg and actors/actresses such as Tom Hanks, Bernie Mac, Keira Knightley, Ashton Kutcher, Kirsten Dunst and Orlando Bloom. According to many of her costars, producers, and directors, the sky is no limit for this young star who has incredible range, intense concentration, and a steely determination to be involved with projects that challenge her professionally with wide-ranging subject matters and characters. Just to ask practically anyone who she has worked for or with about her, glowing comments abound and earned friendships and respect are readily revealed. A star has been born, and growing every day.

Her father is of Dominican descent; her mother is Puerto Rican.
Ranked #42 on the Maxim magazine Hot 100 Women of 2008 list.
In The Terminal (2004), Saldana's character, Torres, is revealed to be a Trekkie. Saldana went on to be cast as "Uhura" in Star Trek (2009).
Had not seen the original series, before she was cast in Star Trek (2009).
To prepare for her role in Star Trek (2009) she met with Nichelle Nichols who played the same character in the original series.
Admires Whoopi Goldberg and Angelina Jolie.
Was chosen as one of People Magazine's annual 100 Most Beautiful People in the World, Beauty at Every Age section, for age 28, in May 2007.
She had a smaller role in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), and was set to star in the sequels, but never did. In the final scene of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006) the people were told an old friend would return, and while filming the scene, the actors were told it was Zoe who would return. However it was Geoffrey Rush, and only told the actors it was Zoe to surprise them, and get real authenticity in their faces. Zoe never reprised her character.
Did an intense nonstop six-month preparation for Avatar (2009) including martial arts, archery and horseback riding.
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 of Uhura into a stronger, kick-ass lady in future Star Trek (2009) sequels.
Says she's a sci-fi geek who just happens to dress nice.
Revealed on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" (2003) that she is often mistaken for Thandie Newton. Even her own mother once mistook the two of them.
Has been in a relationship with actor Keith Britton since 2005.
Ranked #3 on Maxim magazine's Hot 100 Women of 2010 list.
Voted #37 on the 2011 Maxim list "Hot 100" women.
Ranked #91 in the 2011 FHM list of "100 Sexiest Women in the World".
Ranked #24 in the 2010 FHM UK list of "100 Sexiest Women in the World".
Became engaged to Keith Britton in June 2010 but they split in November 2011.
Co-founder, with Keith Britton, of website, My Fashion Data Base (MyFDB.com). They are also business partners in the website.

Personal Quotes

When I go to the D.R., the press in Santo Domingo always asks, "¿Qué te consideras, dominicana o americana?" (What do you consider yourself, Dominican or American?) I don't understand it, and it's the same people asking the same question. So I say, time and time again, "Yo soy una mujer negra." ("I am a black woman.") [They go,] "Oh, no, tú eres trigueñita." ("Oh no, you are 'dark skinned'") I'm like, "No! Let's get it straight, yo soy una mujer negra." ("I am a black woman.")
I am actually! I'm very proud to say I am a geek. But I'm kind of a cool geek. I grew up in a very sci-fi home so I've seen a lot of sci-fi movies, from Dune to Alien, 2001, ET, Batteries Not Included... All these films I go crazy for. But never Star Trek.
I tend to be very picky, so I look for the perfect man! So if Spock and Kirk can mix, they'd become my perfect man. That's the kind of guy I'd go for. I don't only go for muscles, I don't only go for brains. You just need to have a little bit of a bad boy and a geek and then you've got the perfect guy.
I was still living in New York at the time, and I heard that James Cameron was getting ready to shoot a movie. At first, I thought it was going to be that Japanese franchise that he owns; I read for that and it disappeared. Then, like a month later, they want to put me back on tape ... the script excerpts used for auditions were about this girl from a tribe in the jungle and I was like, this is weird. But I put myself on tape again and, a month later, around July 2006, they called me and told me that in a week, I was going to L.A. to meet James Cameron. I remember being very nervous, but he was just such a polite and approachable person. It felt like a meeting where we were getting to know each other, as opposed to an audition, where I have to put my act on -- on auditioning for Avatar (2009).
They're out there - people just aren't investing in them. We can sit here forever discussing it, because it has a chicken vs. the egg quality. Bottom line, producers are business people. Hollywood is a money-making machine. At the end of the day, they have to produce numbers that will help them keep their jobs and companies alive. But we as consumers have a lot more power than we think. Women need to demand better roles and get audiences to see their films. Because if a film doesn't make $150 million, producers and studios aren't going to bankroll a similar film next time. If there were more filmmakers that were female, trust me, it would be all about women. -- on the current landscape of quality roles for actresses.
I don't know if its something that he's been consciously aware of, to be honest. What do know is that he's been impacted by interesting women all his life, because you can tell he's in tune with his feminine side. I've learned this about men who write good roles for women - there's a very beautiful sentimentality to them. Their exteriors are sugarcoated with this manly presence, but deep on the inside, there's also this [fragility]. During the shortness of my career, I've managed to work with [Steven] Spielberg, J.J. Abrams, and now Jim - all directors who are known for having strong female protagonists. They don't feel diminished by it as men; they can tap into the complexities of how woman really are. -- on James Cameron creating strong female characters.
... I will say is that my Avatar (2009) character, Neytiri, has been the most challenging of my entire career - physically, mentally, and spiritually. It's the first time I played a non-human, I had to learn a different language, and it was hard to part with her at the end. No matter how intense other characters have been, I've only been in their skins for at most four months - never a year and a half.
I love sex. I love skin. I don't believe the body is something to hide. I think in American society we're messing up our kids by taking away the education on, and awareness of, our sexuality and replacing it with violence, guns and video games - and we're breeding little criminals.

Awards

ALMA Awards
Year	Result	Award	Category/Recipient(s)
2012	Nominated	ALMA Award	Favorite Movie Actress - Drama/Adventure for: Colombiana (2011).
2011	Nominated	ALMA Award	Favorite Movie Actress - Drama/Adventure for: Takers (2010).
2009	Nominated	ALMA Award	Actress in Film for: Star Trek (2009).
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
Year	Result	Award	Category/Recipient(s)
2010	Won	Saturn Award	Best Actress for: Avatar (2009).
BET Awards
Year	Result	Award	Category/Recipient(s)
2012	Nominated	BET Award	Best Actress for: Colombiana (2011).
2011	Nominated	BET Award	Best Actress for: The Losers (2010/I) and Death at a Funeral (2010).
2010	Nominated	BET Award	Best Actress for: Avatar (2009).
Black Movie Awards
Year	Result	Award	Category/Recipient(s)
2005	Nominated	Black Movie Award	Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role for: Guess Who (2005).
Black Reel Awards
Year	Result	Award	Category/Recipient(s)
2012	Nominated	Black Reel	Best Actress for: Colombiana (2011).
2010	Nominated	Black Reel	Best Supporting Actress for: Avatar (2009).
2006	Nominated	Black Reel	Best Actress for: Guess Who (2005).
Boston Society of Film Critics Awards
Year	Result	Award	Category/Recipient(s)
2009	Won	BSFC Award	Best Ensemble Cast for: Star Trek (2009). Shared with: Zachary Quinto Chris Pine Karl Urban John Cho Ben Cross Eric Bana Clifton Collins Jr. Bruce Greenwood Anton Yelchin Tied with _Precious (2009)_ .
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards
Year	Result	Award	Category/Recipient(s)
2010	Nominated	Critics Choice Award	Best Acting Ensemble for: Star Trek (2009). Shared with: Chris Pine Eric Bana Zachary Quinto Karl Urban Leonard Nimoy Simon Pegg John Cho Anton Yelchin Bruce Greenwood
Empire Awards, UK
Year	Result	Award	Category/Recipient(s)
2010	Won	Empire Award	Best Actress for: Avatar (2009).
Image Awards
Year	Result	Award	Category/Recipient(s)
2012	Nominated	Image Award	Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture for: Colombiana (2011).
2011	Nominated	Image Award	Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture for: The Losers (2010/I).
2010	Nominated	Image Award	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for: Avatar (2009).
2006	Nominated	Image Award	Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture for: Guess Who (2005).
Kids' Choice Awards, USA
Year	Result	Award	Category/Recipient(s)
2010	Nominated	Blimp Award	Cutest Couple for: Avatar (2009). Shared with: Sam Worthington Cutest couple as Neytiri and Jake from Avatar
			Favorite Movie Actress for: Avatar (2009).
MTV Movie Awards
Year	Result	Award	Category/Recipient(s)
2010	Nominated	MTV Movie Award	Best Female Performance for: Avatar (2009).
			Best Kiss for: Avatar (2009). Shared with: Sam Worthington
2003	Nominated	MTV Movie Award	Best Kiss for: Drumline (2002). Shared with: Nick Cannon
People's Choice Awards, USA
Year	Result	Award	Category/Recipient(s)
2010	Nominated	People's Choice Award	Favorite Breakout Movie Actress
SFX Awards, UK
Year	Result	Award	Category/Recipient(s)
2011	Nominated	SFX Award	Best Actress for: Avatar (2009).
Teen Choice Awards
Year	Result	Award	Category/Recipient(s)
2012	Won	Teen Choice Award	Choice Movie Actress: Action for: Colombiana (2011).
2010	Won	Teen Choice Award	Choice Movie Actress: Sci-Fi for: Avatar (2009).
	Nominated	Teen Choice Award	Choice Movie Actress: Action Adventure for: The Losers (2010/I).
			Choice Movie Actress: Comedy for: Death at a Funeral (2010).
2009	Nominated	Teen Choice Award	Choice Movie Actress: Action/Adventure for: Star Trek (2009).
2005	Nominated	Teen Choice Award	Choice Movie Breakout Performance - Female for: Guess Who (2005).
Visual Effects Society Awards
Year	Result	Award	Category/Recipient(s)
2010	Won	VES Award	Outstanding Animated Character in a Live Action Feature Motion Picture for: Avatar (2009). Shared with: Andrew R. Jones (animation director) Joe Letteri (senior visual effects supervisor) Jeff Unay (facial lead) For Neytiri.
Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Awards
Year	Result	Award	Category/Recipient(s)
2009	Nominated	WAFCA Award	Best Ensemble for: Star Trek (2009). Shared with: Zachary Quinto Eric Bana John Cho Karl Urban Chris Pine Bruce Greenwood Ben Cross Anton Yelchin Clifton Collins Jr.