Zoe Saldana is an actress who has starred in many films and TV shows. She is known as one of the most talented actresses in the industry.
She was born in Passaic, New Jersey, to Dominican and Puerto Rican parents. She is fluent in Spanish and English and has two siblings, Cisely and Mariel.
Her Upbringing
She is a Dominican-American actress and dancer who grew up in Passaic, New Jersey, with her mother Asalia Nazario and stepfather Dagoberto Galan. Her father Aridio Saldana died in a car accident around her ninth birthday, and she and her family moved to the Dominican Republic for a few years.
While she was a child, Cisely Saldana was very involved in her education and took up ballet as a major interest. She also studied at the ECOS Espacio de Danza and performed in the New York Youth Theater.
After graduating from high school, she began to pursue an acting career. Her acting experience and ballet training helped her land her first movie role as a ballerina in Center Stage (2000).
Cisely is a proponent of the non-profit microfinance organization FINCA International, which is dedicated to helping children in developing countries. She also co-owns a production company with her sisters, Cinestar Pictures.
Her Debut
When Cisely Saldana was ten years old, her family moved from Passaic, New Jersey to the Dominican Republic. She learned dance at the ECOS Espacio de Danza Academy and began performing in plays that dealt with issues like substance abuse and adolescent sexuality.
After graduating from high school, she enrolled in the FACES theater group in Brooklyn. The group focused on playing contemporary plays that tackled subjects such as adolescent drug use and sexuality.
Her ballet training helped her land her first on-screen role as Eva Rodriguez in the dance film Center Stage (2000). She followed this up with roles in Crossroads (2001) and Drumline (2002).
In 2009, she landed leading roles in two science fiction movie franchises – Star Trek and Avatar – which resulted in her becoming one of the highest-grossing actresses in the world. She also became a fashion icon and is a model for Calvin Klein, Avon, the Gap and more.
Her Filmography
Cisely Saldana has an impressive and diverse filmography that spans romance to tragedy, sci-fi to action and fiction to drama. She has also played a wide range of supporting roles and is able to give her performances with ease and conviction.
She started her acting career by starring in the dance drama Center Stage (2000) where she portrayed Eva Rodriguez, a talented but snippy ballet student. Her performance was well received and she became a star in the industry.
Next, she starred as Anamaria in the blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl where she was able to display her dance skills alongside Johnny Depp’s Jack Sparrow.
She subsequently starred in James Cameron’s Avatar where she was able to showcase her acting skills. Her performance in the film was not captured with computer generated imagery but rather with make-up and her performance was praised by critics. She then starred in the hit 2014 superhero film Guardians of the Galaxy where she portrayed Gamora.
Her Awards
Cisely Saldana has made a name for herself in the world of acting. She has worked in a number of films and has received a variety of awards for her work.
Her first role was in a Law & Order episode titled “Refuge, Part 2” in 1999. She was a member of the FACES theatre troupe and was discovered by a talent agent.
She appeared in a series of teen movies, including the Nicholas Hytner directed Center Stage (2000), and the Britney Spears vehicle Crossroads (2002). In 2003, she played a female pirate in the surprise hit Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.
Her breakthrough roles came in 2009 when she was cast as Nyota Uhura in the Star Trek film series and Neytiri in James Cameron’s Avatar. She later starred in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, beginning with Guardians of the Galaxy.
