Comments

1. Deaf Indian Muslim Anarchist wrote:

   haha. I love it. She probably wouldn’t get along with Michael Bay who’s such a f–king, shitty, crappy hack “filmmaker” who revels in stereotypes and sexism in his stupid movies.

   Posted 04 Jan 2010 at 11:00 am ¶

2. Aiyo wrote:

   Good for Zoe for being weary of the roles that she chooses as a Afro Latina actress

   Posted 04 Jan 2010 at 11:20 am ¶

3. MayDarling wrote:

   Love, love her.

   Posted 04 Jan 2010 at 11:30 am ¶

4. RCHOUDH wrote:

   That’s a very pretty picture of her! With that said I find it interesting that the two movies she’s most well known for right now have her playing love interest to white men playing alien characters lol!

   Posted 04 Jan 2010 at 11:43 am ¶

5. Heather Leila wrote:

   I once used her picture to show my students that yes, it is possible to be both Black and Latina. This was after a student of mine told me that Latinos can’t be black because “Black is Black.”

   She’s beautiful, but more than that, she has made really smart decisions for roles- I hope her career continues to rise high.

   Posted 04 Jan 2010 at 12:17 pm ¶

6. Lola wrote:

   @ Rchoudh
   she has also done 2 other interracial love stories in Guess Who and Haven.

   Posted 04 Jan 2010 at 12:43 pm ¶

7. Lola wrote:

   there are a lot of black Latinos in the media but they are usually cast in African American roles. Apparently brown people cannot be cast as Latinos in racist America.

   Posted 04 Jan 2010 at 12:45 pm ¶

8. Lyonside wrote:

   >white men playing alien characters

   Well, that’s a change at least from visably ethnic minorities playing aliens while the default “human” is white. *highfives Jason Sperber – he knows why…*

   Posted 04 Jan 2010 at 12:53 pm ¶

9. Phrone wrote:

   Zoe Saldana is amazing. I love how she calls out Hollywood for all the sh*t roles she must have to put up with as a black Latina.

   Posted 04 Jan 2010 at 12:56 pm ¶

10. abbkr wrote:

    Avatar was her most commanding role to date, she made that movie.

    no doubt, we’re gonna see her everywhere from now on.

    Posted 04 Jan 2010 at 12:57 pm ¶

11. ourname wrote:

    What an amazing stance for an actress to take. Go Zoe!

    Posted 04 Jan 2010 at 1:35 pm ¶

12. Jenny wrote:

    I’m another big Zoe fan (what can I say, Drumline is one of those movies I like to put on on a lazy Saturday!), and I’m thrilled that she’s been able to build her career to the level it’s at now — starring in two of the biggest movies of the year. That’s amazing.

    She’s such a great successor to Nichelle Nichols in the role of Uhura. Both she and Nichelle have extensive dance backgrounds, so they both carry Uhura the same way.

    Posted 04 Jan 2010 at 1:47 pm ¶

13. Luis wrote:

    Man, I’ve been head over heels for that girl since I saw The Terminal. Gorgeous, smart, talented, and perfectly bilingual? Yes, please.

    In all seriousness, it’s amazing that she’s locked down prominent roles in, not one, but two huge Sci-Fi franchises. By the time the Star Trek and Avatar trilogies are through, she’s going to be a household name.

    Posted 04 Jan 2010 at 1:56 pm ¶

14. J baz wrote:

    I think I have a new crush

    Posted 04 Jan 2010 at 1:59 pm ¶

15. Capri wrote:

    I love Zoe S. She’s smart and beautiful & as a fan of her work I’m happy for her recent roles.

    Posted 04 Jan 2010 at 2:03 pm ¶

16. Tony Figueroa wrote:

    I give Zoe a lot of credit for not taking the easy money that is no doubt offered for playing the stereotypical characters. In “Star Trek” she was able to portray Uhura with the same strength of personality that Nichelle Nichols bought to the role. And they finally gave her a first name too! Her refusal to portray stereotypes reminded me of the scene in Robert Townsend’s “Hollywood Shuffle” where he’s about to portray a stereotype character while his admiring nephew ( or little brother) watches. Townsend’s character walks off the set because he no longer wants to contribute his talent to perpetuating onscreen stereotypes. Much respect to Zoe!

    Posted 04 Jan 2010 at 2:07 pm ¶

17. RCHOUDH wrote:

    @ Lola

    Thanks I didn’t know that. I guess I was just looking at the two movies that did well at the box office and have given her name recognition.

    Posted 04 Jan 2010 at 2:27 pm ¶

18. shemari wrote:

    I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Zoe Saldana and what she has to say here, especially about the ethnic stereotypes.

    She’s been able to play Latina characters (at least in name) without them being stereotypes.

    It’s great that she’s gotten roles in 2 of last year’s biggest blockbusters. She’s certainly paid her dues and deserved those opportunities.

    Sure she was the leading man’s girlfriend in both roles, but she was also so much more. Uhura was smart, assertive, and loving. The cherry on top was that she got Spock. That scene with them in the turbo lift was one of the most romantic I’ve ever seen. It gives me goosebumps watching it.

    After seeing Avatar – SPOILERS AHEAD -,

    I’m mildly obsessed with Neytiri. She was her man’s mentor and protector. In the end she saved his life. I’ve been amazed at how many young men (on message boards) found the scene where Neytiri protectively crouches over Jake’s body and hisses sexy. Men love a fierce woman too!

    Girlfriend roles don’t have to be all bad.

    I hope to see a lot more of Zoe Saldana in the future.

    Posted 04 Jan 2010 at 3:02 pm ¶

19. GüeraLola wrote:

    @ Heather Leila
    It frustrates me when I hear some Latinos say that Latinos can’t be black. So I tend to roll my eyes when people say “Your Latino! but, you’re black!” I love this line : ” I would like to retain accuracy of certain cultures. Some people will do these roles, but I’m fine with being poor.” Oh if only, Hollywood was half as smart as she is!

    Posted 04 Jan 2010 at 3:46 pm ¶

20. 9jah wrote:

    I think she’s a great actress and obviously beautiful…but I think we’re ascribing to her an identity that, to my knowledge, she has never expressely claimed i.e black latina, afro latina.

    In fact, she tends to be very evasive about that specific identity issue. If you read the full interview she touched on being Latina and issues with women’s roles but somehow sidestepped a critical issue re the lack of black roles etc. If she does not think of herself as “black”, “Afro” or whatever the permutation, that’s fine but it is an indefensible move to then assume roles that are specifically black and in some cases of cultural significance like Uhura.

    Posted 04 Jan 2010 at 4:09 pm ¶

21. 9jah wrote:

    @ Lola -

    “there are a lot of black Latinos in the media but they are usually cast in African American roles. Apparently brown people cannot be cast as Latinos in racist America.”

    True. but it is worth noting that brown ppl are not cast as Latino’s in Latin America either.

    Posted 04 Jan 2010 at 4:12 pm ¶

22. Persephone wrote:

    I really want someone to make a movie of The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao so we can have Zoe as the grown up Lola de Leon.

    (@ 9jah — I’m pretty sure I’ve read that she identifies as both latina and black.)

    Posted 04 Jan 2010 at 4:32 pm ¶

23. Celeste wrote:

    @9jah: I have no links but I have heard quotes from her where she has clearly stated her race as black while at the same time identifying herself as latina. I do agree that if you don’t consider yourself a certain race then I don’t think you should takes roles that are specific for that race.

    Posted 04 Jan 2010 at 4:33 pm ¶

24. Lola wrote:

    @ 9jah

    actually there is an interview she did in the Domican Republic where she refers to herself as a black woman
    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.”)

    Posted 04 Jan 2010 at 4:40 pm ¶

25. Winn wrote:

    I’ve loved Zoe since “Center Stage” (I may be a film snob, but put some dancing feet in it, and its even possible that some yards may get stomped or someone might get served on my teevee…), and I love her outspokenness about having to fight stereotypes and strictures in Hollywood. I do not have a specific link, but like other commenters, I have read a number of interviews in which Zoe has described herself as either a “black Latina” or a “black woman and a Latina”. I never got the impression she was uncomfortable with being identified as black or evasive about her own self-identification, and I distinctly remember reading an interview with her prior to the release of Star Trek in which she spoke of the reverence with which she took on the role of Uhura, partly because of what Nichols’ portrayal represented to black women and girls all over the world. Her phrasing made it clear that she included herself in that group.

    Posted 04 Jan 2010 at 5:21 pm ¶

26. shemari wrote:

    I have to co-sign with the others here who say that they’ve never heard Zoe deny being black. From what I’ve read and heard from her interviews, she’s proud of being both black and Latina.

    Oh and it’s not only Latinos that deny that blacks can also be Latino. I’ve seen many black gossip sites where commenters like to claim that because Zoe describes herself as Dominican/Latina, she’s denying being black. How sad that even blacks don’t seem to recognize that black people exist outside of the USA and Africa AND have other distinct cultures that they are proud of.

    Posted 04 Jan 2010 at 5:49 pm ¶

27. laromana wrote:

    I am glad to see that Zoe is being able to build a promising career in Hollywood and that she resists stereotypical roles. I believe that she is definitely reaping the benefits of the sacrifices made by many Black actresses before her (of comparable or higher talent) who were not given many opportunities to showcase their talent to a broad audience due to Hollywood’s ANTI-BW RACISM/tokenism as it relates to Black actresses.

    I would like to see a broader range of Black actresses mainstream themselves by becoming film producers for their own projects. I don’t trust that Hollywood will ever give Black actresses the respect they deserve by offerring them more/varied NON-STEREOTYPICAL roles.

    Posted 04 Jan 2010 at 5:55 pm ¶

28. 9jah wrote:

    I do follow her quite a bit and have never read her acknowledge black/afro identity even when tossed a bone (like the interviewer’s reference to her playing a black ops). But if as some posters have noted she has done so, then no problems. Point well taken.

    There tends to be some confusion with regards to her identity – as with a lot of Dominicans. Alphonso Rebeiro long thought to be Dominican is actually of Trinidad and Tobago ancestry.

    Posted 04 Jan 2010 at 6:23 pm ¶

29. The Afro wrote:

    @9jah – the term ‘Black Ops’ is a shortened version of Black Operations, as in covert government ops that aren’t ‘on the books’ shall we say. It has nothing to do with race or colour.

    Posted 04 Jan 2010 at 6:42 pm ¶

30. 9jah wrote:

    @ The Afro – duly noted.

    Posted 04 Jan 2010 at 7:20 pm ¶

31. Phil Deeze wrote:

    Zoe Saldana truly is something special. Good for her for doing Hollywood on her terms.

    She was great in “Haven” and “Center Stage,” though they were box office smashes. I liked her character in “Drumline,” too. The Southern accent needed some work, though. (kidding, kidding.)

    Haven’t seen “Avatar” yet.

    Posted 04 Jan 2010 at 10:51 pm ¶

32. Sonic wrote:

    WOW is she fierce! I loved reading the entire interview. She seemed so confident and I of course give her huge kudos for the parts you guys exerpted.

    Posted 04 Jan 2010 at 11:20 pm ¶

33. Paz wrote:

    Love her, and love her stance, but has she really never played a stereotypical role? I’ve only seen maybe one movie with her, but I have to say, it’s easy when you’ve encountered as much success as she has to say, I won’t do these parts, as opposed to someone who’s struggling to pay the rent.
    Oh and add blonde people to the list of who can’t play/be Latinos. Obviously white Latinos hold a certain amount of privilege that Afro-Latinos don’t, but I really wish that the media would recognize that Latinos come in all colors.

    Posted 05 Jan 2010 at 12:32 am ¶

34. Lady Di wrote:

    This is a very good discussion. I have to admit that this comment by Paz really got to me.

    Oh and add blonde people to the list of who can’t play/be Latinos. Obviously white Latinos hold a certain amount of privilege that Afro-Latinos don’t, but I really wish that the media would recognize that Latinos come in all colors.

    I have to agree with this. It does seem to me that American only sees Latino people as people who are meztiso looking. Cameron Diaz and Christina Aguilera benefit from White privlege and people only see them as White instead of Latina despite their Latin Heritage. As well as Zoe Saldana and Laz Alonso who is Afro-Cuban and is only seen as Black but not Latino. Very interesting discussion that should be for a seperate thread. I love Zoe Saldana. She has always been proud of being an Afro-Latina woman and she also is amazing of turning down ethnic and racial stereotypes.

    Posted 05 Jan 2010 at 1:11 am ¶

35. Lady Di wrote:

    shemari said:

    Oh and it’s not only Latinos that deny that blacks can also be Latino. I’ve seen many black gossip sites where commenters like to claim that because Zoe describes herself as Dominican/Latina, she’s denying being black. How sad that even blacks don’t seem to recognize that black people exist outside of the USA and Africa AND have other distinct cultures that they are proud of.

    Sad but very true. I think it is because Black Americans are infleunced by American’s perception of Latinos and that is not really White or Black. Black people do exist in other countries besides Africa and the USA. However, since Latinos range in different skin tones, how are people suppose to recognize this?

    Posted 05 Jan 2010 at 1:14 am ¶

36. izebe wrote:

    ooh, i adore her vibe so much. my old neighbour who i only knew from seeing him move in next door and around our building, saw me returning home in dance tights one day and asked me if i danced, liked her or happened to see the movie center stage. he was her cousin! [after i said yes to all three] he then proceeded to call her phone from his cell while i squealed excitedly outside my apartment—alas, she didn’t pick up we got her voicemail & left a message. from someone who actually knows her: himself a chill, gounded, gracious, pleasant & seemingly thoughtful guy–no pretenses about “my cousin zoe” or anything like that about him–he attested to her coolness of character. i was like, yes! when i read this. absolutely a fan, wishing her continued success and oodles of typecast shattering!

    Posted 05 Jan 2010 at 1:33 am ¶

37. Golden Silence wrote:

    Zoe Saldana: [Laughs.] I did make one request to J.J., which was that I really wanted my character to kick some ass, so he said he’s going to think about that. Just so you know, you guys aren’t the only ones in the dark when it comes to J.J. He’ll hold a surprise up until the last minute, even with the people that he’s working with.

    Very good to hear. I’m glad Uhura will possibly get the chance to have more action than she did during Nichelle Nichols’ time. Watching her in the original ST was frustrating because she barely got to leave that bridge or that chair. Here’s to Zoe for possibly getting something happening.

    Posted 05 Jan 2010 at 11:06 am ¶

38. shemari wrote:

    @Lady Di

    I’m not asking that people be able to recognize all Latinos by sight, but I hope that if someone (who looks black) identifies him/her self as Latino they will not be vilified.

    I remember on one site where Carmelo Anthony talked about how he wanted to honor his Latin heritage (his father is Puerto Rican). There were a number of angry comments where the people were accusing him of denying his blackness. Zoe was mentioned in some of the comments as doing the same thing.

    My point is that one may not be able to tell another person’s cultural (or even racial) identity by looking at them. However, when they identify themselves as Latino or whatever, the automatic response shouldn’t be something like “So you ain’t black now.”

    To be honest, there is always someone from Puerto Rico or the Dominican Republic who will affirm that they should not be referred to as Black because every single person from their country is “mixed.” Fortunately, someone else from PR or DR always chimes in to set the record straight.

    Posted 05 Jan 2010 at 11:59 am ¶

39. Iggles wrote:

    Zoe is awesome! It’s great to see she’s getting so much love here!

    I loved Star Trek (saw it 4 times in theater) and Avatar (2x so far!)! She was incredible in both roles.

    @ Jenny:
    I’m another big Zoe fan (what can I say, Drumline is one of those movies I like to put on on a lazy Saturday!)

    Yup!

    Posted 05 Jan 2010 at 1:11 pm ¶

40. Just A Thought wrote:

    I love Zoe, and I’ve never followed whether or not she identified as black. I mean, she has phenotypically black features, so she is going to be subject to issues facing black people regardless of her heritage and culture. I’m glad she takes a stand on not portraying stereotypical roles, and I want to see her in more movies (although Center Stage my fav Zoe S. movie. I’m not a huge fan of Avatar, so whatev)

    As for the whole issue of “are you black or are you Latina?”, will just say that I’ve encountered ignorance coming from both groups, and I think more work needs to be done so people aren’t marginalized, overlooked, and stereotyped by either community.

    Posted 05 Jan 2010 at 6:48 pm ¶

41. Marc Singer wrote:

    Remember Pirate Zoe (Anamaria) in “Pirates of the Caribbean”? She belted Johnny Depp good.

    Long live Pirate Zoe!!

    Posted 05 Jan 2010 at 10:15 pm ¶

42. yolanda wrote:

    she seems awesome

    Posted 05 Jan 2010 at 11:37 pm ¶

43. Nikkole wrote:

    Let’s not forget the other major movie franchise she’s been in–Pirates of the Caribbean, as a no-nonsense, Jack Sparrow-punching pirate.

    Posted 06 Jan 2010 at 2:04 am ¶

44. Nikkole wrote:

    Also, I think that the misconceptions concerning black latinos would be hugely eliminated if more people had a better understanding of even the most basic of American (which includes all the Americas) history. I think there is too much focus on the word “latino” as referring to a ethnic race rather than an extremely broad cultural, historical, and regional identity that includes a range of ethnicities. Zoe is both black and Latina.

    Posted 06 Jan 2010 at 2:17 am ¶

45. Afroagogo wrote:

    This is why I hate the whole concept of “race.”
    What the hell is “both black AND latina?” I understand the whole “latina” part, but what’s “black?” Just the fact that her skin is darker? Or does it refer to the fact that she has some features that look like she came from Africa? Or are one of her parents directly from Africa? Or did she have a relative from Africa way back when and doesn’t know from where exactly, so she just uses “black” as a sweeping generalization?
    Can’t she just be what she is? Because what does “black” describe other than a color?

    Posted 07 Jan 2010 at 12:37 am ¶

46. ashlynn wrote:

    What I love about Zoe in general is that she is an actress of color making her way now in film genres that not only tend to exclude people of color, but women in general as well. Seeing her do her thing in Avatar and Star Trek(despite our major objections to these films, she and her characters rise above the drawbacks with grace and skill) is a huge boost to the little girls of color who are total nerds, roughnecks, and everything in between.

    Posted 07 Jan 2010 at 3:51 am ¶

47. Tiffany wrote:

    Love Zoe

    Posted 07 Jan 2010 at 8:05 pm ¶