Trivia

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

To prepare for her role as Nyota Uhura in Star Trek (2009), she met 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.

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.

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. When filming the final scene of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (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.

Her father was Dominican and her mother is Puerto Rican.

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).

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.

Returned to work seven months after giving birth to her twins Cy and Bowie to begin filming Star Trek Beyond (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 Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017), Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023), Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019).

In Steven Spielberg's The Terminal (2004), her character, Dolores Torres, is 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.

Sang with Diego Luna on the song "No Matter Where You Are" for the soundtrack of The Book of Life (2014).

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.

Is a supporter of FINCA International, a non-profit microfinance organization.

Her favorite teen movie growing up was Some Kind of Wonderful (1987).

Admires Whoopi Goldberg and Angelina Jolie.

Was eight months pregnant with her son Zen when she completed filming I Kill Giants (2017).

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 the Barbarian (2011).

In 2021, Zoe publicly reclaimed the original and correct spelling of her second name - "Saldaña". She explained that before appearing in her first movie Center Stage (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".

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).

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

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: The Way of Water (2022).

She has appeared in three films that have been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture: Avatar (2009), Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) and Emilia Pérez (2024).

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

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

Speaks English and Spanish fluently.

In 2017, she founded BESA, a digital media platform designed to combat the lack of diversity in mainstream media, with an interest on providing and promoting 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. James Cameron and longtime friend Mila Kunis were guest speakers at the ceremony.

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

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

She also has dyslexia.

Her films have grossed more than $15 million worldwide.