Zoe Saldaña Wants to Helm an Action Movie: ‘I’ve Never Seen a Woman Direct James Bond Movie’

As a film enthusiast with a penchant for international cinema, I must say that Zoe Saldana is a powerhouse actress who continues to impress me with her versatility and ambition. Her journey from late bloomer to an actor whose films have grossed an astounding $15 billion is nothing short of inspiring.


As a passionate movie enthusiast, I find myself reflecting on the journey of Zoe Saldaña, who humbly labels herself as a “late bloomer.” With her films amassing an astounding $15 billion in earnings, she’s undeniably finding her groove at the ripe age of 46. Yet, this versatile actress isn’t content to rest on her laurels; instead, she’s eager to take her fiery career to new heights by venturing into the director’s chair. Among the possibilities, an action-packed film seems to hold the most allure for this ambitious artist.

She clarified, “I’ve never come across a female director for a James Bond film. I enjoy ‘The Equalizer’, and I often watch crime dramas. Perhaps in the future, there could be. Crime themes have always fascinated me, and ‘Heat’ is a movie I revisit at least once a year to study its intricacies, particularly how Michael Mann skillfully orchestrates every aspect of it, including the stellar performances. So, my dream would be to kick off a project involving action-heist elements.

Tonight, at the Toronto International Film Festival, my operatic crime drama “Emilia Pérez” will have its premiere. During a chat with TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey, I shared insights about what lies ahead in my career.

She declared, ‘I’m always open to new experiences, I can handle anything.’ This resonated with the crowd, reminding them of how Ang Lee adapted ‘Sense and Sensibility.’ Just as he did, I might take on a Jane Austen piece tomorrow – you just never know.

Emilia Pérez” arrives in Toronto with a lot of chatter surrounding awards season, following her success at Cannes where she shared the Best Actress award with co-stars Selena Gomez, Karla Sofía Gascón and Adriana Paz. The bold Spanish-language film directed by Jacques Audiard is making its Canadian debut tonight at the festival.

In a lively, hour-long chat at TIFF’s crowded theater, this esteemed actress discussed an assortment of subjects, such as her iconic roles in some of the highest-earning films ever made, like James Cameron’s “Avatar” series and the latest two “Avengers” installments.

The technology Jim employed in ‘Avatar’ allows the actor to be the centerpiece of their entire performance, taking pride of place. We don’t provide voices or any other elements. In 2009, as was his custom, Jim was ahead of his time. Being a scientist at heart, he creates things that require people to think deeply about them. He helped me accept this reality. Ultimately, whether or not people grasp it is irrelevant. ‘Avatar’ will endure for eternity and inspire generations to come. This is his legacy, and I am privileged to be a part of it.

In the context of increased focus on accurate representation in casting, Saldaña, who has a Dominican father and Puerto Rican mother, shared her reasoning behind portraying a Mexican character in “Emilia Pérez,” or as she described it, a character with Mexican roots.

In her own words, she shared, “Upon reading the script, Jacques asked me to portray Rita. Initially, I responded, but I’d like to clarify that I am not Mexican. Given my heightened sensitivity towards cultural appropriation, I want to ensure we depict people authentically and make those represented feel well-represented.

But as she continued to pore over the script, she began to see her on ramp.

“Rita’s journey was not defined by her being Mexican. It was defined by her being a lawyer, being a woman in a very masculine workplace and feeling completely invisible and powerless,” she said. “So once I felt that these were the overall traits and qualities and arc to Rita, getting her to Mexico was what I needed to work on, and Jacques was completely supportive of it. He goes, ‘I don’t care how Rita gets to Mexico. Just get her to Mexico and make it make sense. As a first-generation Latina that knows Latin American history very, very well, because I was educated in Latin America, and colonialism is very real –the way that we discriminate against ourselves and against each other within our own communities and countries is rampant — and that’s something that we don’t really talk about. I want to normalize that. Rita’s a Black woman in Mexico City, and that is real, and that may not be something that is known here in the United States, but that is very well known.”

Saldaña pointed out that discrimination is prevalent among Latin communities. As a Black woman, she undeniably experienced the hierarchical system openly imposed upon her.

This event occurs frequently, yet one might assume it happens occasionally. However, this is not the case. If you examine content in Latin America, visit news stations, observe their soap operas, and scrutinize the production mechanisms, you’ll find that it’s predominantly white Latino. This has been my observation as well. I experienced something similar when I lived in my parents’ native country, where my sisters and I encountered this lack of representation in our private school and community. Therefore, I understood Rita’s journey. She was a Dominican immigrant studying in Mexico, grappling with invisibility on multiple levels.

Netflix has acquired the distribution rights for “Emilia Pérez” at Cannes and plans to debut the movie in select cinemas across the United States and Canada on November 1st. The film will then be available for streaming on Netflix starting November 13th.

Additionally, there are three more “Avatar” films planned for Saldana, set to release in 2025, 2029, and 2031. However, she would welcome the opportunity to explore a unique take within this massive franchise as well.

When asked which of her past movies she’d prefer as a musical, she replied, ‘How about “Avatar: The Musical”? I believe I could handle that role. But I also feel that we might need Cirque du Soleil performers to bring it to life.’

Regarding the prestigious awards she hasn’t won yet, Saldaña admits she wouldn’t mind receiving some recognition.

She expressed that if only she could be incredibly self-assured and assert, ‘I don’t require your approval or acknowledgement,’ but the truth is, the artist within her does. It’s not about seeking praise; it’s about expressing what we create because we have no other choice.

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2024-09-09 22:17