Zoe Saldaña has just won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress at the Academy Awards for her role in Emilia Pérez.

The Marie Claire UK cover star opened her acceptance speech by thanking her mother.

Saldaña was the frontrunner for the award, thanks to her performance as a high-powered defence attorney in Jacques Audiard's musical crime movie. She had already claimed several major supporting actress accolades leading up to the Oscars, including a Golden Globe, BAFTA, and SAG Award.

However, the film faced controversies, particularly due to offensive social media posts from the film's lead star, Karla Sofía Gascón, which threatened to overshadow its success. Saldaña recently addressed the controversy surrounding Emilia Pérez and her co-star Karla Sofía Gascón, saying somewhat opaquely, “We are responsible for everything we say.”

Emilia Pérez entered the Academy Awards with a record-breaking 13 nominations—three more than any previous foreign-language film. The film's journey began at the Cannes Film Festival last year, where Saldaña, Gascón, and co-stars Adriana Paz and Selena Gomez jointly received the Best Actress Award.

Saldaña closed her acceptance speech by honouring her grandmother who moved to America from the Dominican in 1961 and recognising her role as “a proud child of immigrant parents. With dreams and dignity and hard-working hands,” Saldaña finished by saying, “And I am the first American of Dominican origin to accept an Academy Award. And I know I will not be the last...I hope!”

For many film fans, the name Zoë Saldaña conjures up images of blue humanoids and green Marvel characters. But beyond the fantastical universes of Avatar, Guardians of the Galaxy and Star Trek, the American actress is at the helm of an illustrious Hollywood career — which sinews through 2011’s Colombiana and 2022’s Amsterdam, and culminates with Netflix’ Emilia Pérez.

The film, which also stars Selena Gomez and Karla Sofía Gascón, is a daring, Spanish-language musical-cum-thriller in which Saldaña plays a lawyer in Mexico who is called up to help a notorious drug cartel leader transition so that she can live as a woman (Gascón) by faking her death in the eyes of the world and particularly of her wife (Gomez). By Saldaña’s admission, it’s one of her most challenging roles to date, one for which she had to tap into her Dominican and Puerto Rican roots, her experiences with classism and racism, and the times in her life when she’s felt most misunderstood.

Earlier this month, I step into a room at the Corinthia Hotel in London where videographers and publicists mill about frenetically. In the midst of them, Saldaña cuts a stunning figure; she looks as polished as you might expect in textured tones of brown, and she has that intangible allure of a star. You can’t name it, but you can’t deny its presence. She talks with animated passion about fulfilling her dream of working with director Jacques Audiard, about the difficulties and joys of her role as Rita Mora Castro, and about still — to this day — being unable to normalise her experience of fame.

What first drew you to Emilia Pérez?

Jacques Audiard. My team called me and said that they had just left a meeting with Jacques and he was looking to cast his new movie, and they felt that there was a role that I was really right for... my heart almost exploded inside my chest. And then from there to having a Zoom meeting with him, I was so nervous because he's one of the directors that I absolutely adore. He was so approachable. He made me feel so safe.

How did you land the part?

We ended up having an almost two-hour conversation via Zoom - and it was supposed to be an audition! I needed to sing and maybe read some sides - I don't think we read any sides. We just went straight into singing after we had a conversation, and it was amazing. I remember leaving that Zoom and thinking, 'If I don't do this movie, I'm going to be so sad'. I just felt it. When it’s serendipitous, you’re like, 'Oh my God, he felt it too!'

Tell us more about the non-audition audition...

I mean, it was still an audition... it could have been a wonderful conversation and then [makes a dramatic thumbs down gesture]. But no, we had a second Zoom where I did read the scenes, and we did have conversations of, ‘Hypothetically speaking, if you were to play Rita, how would you explain you, an Afro-Caribbean woman living in Mexico City?’

And obviously, these are questions that it's OK. It’s OK to have those inquiries, even though as a Latina who has lived in Latin America, the multicultural breakdown of people per country is very - it's just very normal for me. But I also understand that it is not normal for so many people that just get to see superficial or topical introductions to certain countries. So it was a five minute conversation. I was like, ‘OK, she was born in Dominican Republic, but then she ended up there studying and now she just decides to just pursue her career there.’ And he's like, ‘Oh, that's fine. Great. So we want you for the part. We want you to play Rita.’ I was just like, 'What? Wait a minute, we're moving really fast!'

What's your favourite on-set memory?

I feel like every other day was a favorite on-set memory! Putting together Rita for the very first day of shooting. There was a suit that I needed to wear under the suit that I ended up wearing, and the bushy eyebrows, and the braid, and the no makeup... There were these gold worn and torn shoes that Rita wears in her 'before.' Every character goes through a journey of a before and after - never at the degree that Emilia does - but Rita has her own transformation. I remember thinking, 'You're here, she's here'.

The first scene that we shot was the Alegato, which is the very first scene of the movie when you see her putting together this closing argument for this case that she's building. And I remember just thinking, 'This is going to be a wonderful summer, a beautiful experience and a dream come true.' I just felt that and I remember I got really emotional.

Did you do anything specific to tap into Rita's mindset for Emilia Pérez?

Revisiting and taking a walk down memory lane through sense memory, and finding moments in my life where I felt completely overlooked and misunderstood. Tapping into sort of a psychosocial breakdown of colonised nations, where their identity is very much reliant on class systems that are not ladders, but are actually formed in chains. There's a colour system, a skin colour system as well. So going back to that, which is a quite painful journey for me, but understanding its importance to finally be a part of stories that are telling these realities of Latin America, or other nations, was amazing.

What's the biggest piece of advice you have for getting into character?

You have to shed yourself out of it, because you always kind of go, 'Well, I'm gonna do this with the character'. And at the moment that thought comes into mind, don't. Sometimes it's OK to come into work and not know what you're gonna do, because it doesn't depend on you. It depends on what your other actor is giving you, what your director wants you to do, the environment that they've designed for you. So if you come already with an idea, it's such a rigid way and such a one-dimensional way of working, and you're not really open.

Of all the roles you've played, which character have you felt most connected to?

I try to connect with characters all the time... you have to be present in order for you to give 120%. But I do have a special affinity with Neytiri in Avatar. I worked so hard for that character, and I had to really de-humanize myself to become this other humanoid. It was like going to school, and I never went to school - I always had a chip on my shoulder. Well, it's kind of an insecurity of, 'I'm less than, I will always be less than as an artist because I don't have the training, the background, the pedigree that sustains all the work that I'm wanting to do.'

But for Neytiri, I feel like I had gone to school because I had so many months of training.

Do you remember the first time a fan spotted you?

I think I was walking around Times Square with a friend, and we were talking about a project that we were gonna do together. There was a group of high school girls and I think they had seen Center Stage. I remember getting really disregulated because they were screaming, and I almost covered one of their mouths! I remember thinking, 'Oh, that was awkward,' and telling myself, 'Well, I need to know what to do when that happens, if it does happen.'

But then I completely felt ashamed. Like, 'Oh, I can't, that means I'm expecting to be famous.' I've never normalised fame in my life. I don't know how to live in it. I really don't. So it always catches me by surprise when people recognise me.

What makes you feel empowered?

Sometimes it's just getting everything on my list done for that day. What makes me feel empowered, too, is empowering other women. It's just stepping outside of my comfort zone, not being afraid to be there for other women. And not having that fear that if I'm there for others, I'm not gonna be there for myself.

I think that that's important. We need to really be honest with ourselves, and a lot of us are like that - we're very reserved and sometimes a little too stingy with our compliments. You have to be very generous; when you see it and you feel it, then say it and do it. That's very empowering. And say no. I think that's important, and advocating for other women to say no when they need to, when it feels right for them.

Is that a lesson you’ve had to learn the hard way?

You know, I don't mean to sound arrogant – I think that for the most part, when I needed to say no, I'm quite comfortable saying no. Now saying no is… I'm learning when I'm overbooked, when my fountain of work is full and I can't take on any more. I'm learning to say no more, so that I can say yes to my family, to family time and personal time for sure.

Lastly, what's one final thing you really want to say about Emilia Pérez?

I just wanna say thank you to everyone that has been drawn to Emilia Pérez. It means so much to all of us women. Trans women, women of colour, immigrant women - women trying to find their most authentic self and trying to be free. Thank you so much for making space for female-driven narratives in films and in art. It's so important.

Emilia Pérez is available to watch now on Netflix.

Zoe Saldana is a Hollywood action icon, starring in three of the five highest grossing films of all time, Avatar, Star Trek and Guardians of the Galaxy. 

The highly-anticipated release of Avatar: The Way of Water sees Saldana return to her role of Pandoran princess Neytiri which she played 17 years earlier, a role reserved for only the physically strongest of action stars.

Today as we launch our Wellness Issue, and accompanying Start the Year Strong campaign, we are thrilled to announce Zoe Saldana as our cover star. 

The 44-year-old mother of 3 underwent intensive physical and psychological preparation to build up her strength for the role, training in archery, horseback riding, martial arts, running and jumping. And crucially, following director James Cameron's decision to focus on sub-aquatic filming, she trained to hold her breath underwater for five minutes.

“I had to regain my stamina. I know that my body can give back if I pace it, so I paced myself, and I regained all that knowledge,” Saldana explained in her cover interview, adding that she also quit smoking when she landed the part. “It felt so good to breathe, to fully take a breath – to challenge myself and find out that my body was capable of doing so much more."

She continued: “When I put in the work and push myself, when I’m consistently disciplined – that makes me feel strong.”

On closer inspection however, strength and wellness run through everything Zoe does, from raising her sons to process their emotions healthily and her refreshing approach to success, to finding calm amid the chaos in her day to day.

Here are 5 powerful takeaways from our cover interview with Zoe Saldana

1. Success is about discovery

“[Success] was always a gradual ascension – step by step. I never felt like I had exploded. Which was good. I wasn’t one of those artists that was like, ‘Oh, I’ve gotta make it.’ I always wondered, what is ‘it’? What is that ‘it’? You’ve got to define what that ‘it’ is, and for me, my ‘it’ was to be on a journey of discovery, to live my life as an artist.”

2. Being an outsider can be your superpower

“I learned that I should only surround myself with people who think like I do. People like Steven Spielberg [who directed her in The Terminal], James Cameron [Avatar], JJ Abrams [Star Trek] and James Gunn [Guardians] are individuals who’ve probably had their share of feeling like outcasts. Science fiction provided a blank canvas where they could reinvent themselves and imagine the unimaginable. Well, guess what: I was the same way. And they saw me the same way I saw them.”

3. Pass down confidence, not fear

“You know, being an island person, I come from generations of indigenous people that grew up around water, and it’s an uneasy relationship. We’ve been told, through folklore and nursery rhymes, that the ocean can betray you if you’re not cautious. There’s an inherited fear. I’m really happy that I didn't pass down that fear. I passed down confidence. It’s good to know that we can do it, we can be safe. Beyond anything I could have imagined.” 

4. Being seen by the right people is more important than being seen by everyone

“I went out for great projects. Sometimes I would go as far as meeting the director. And then I would get feedback that they’d decided to go ‘traditional’ with the casting. I’m pretty sure that the internal conversations there were that they didn’t want to go Black, they didn’t want to go ethnic. I didn’t sweat it…. I realised early on in my career that I don’t have to be seen by everybody. I just want to be seen by those who truly see who I am.”

5. Raising boys who can speak freely about their feelings is my goal

“I want my sons to be tapped into their emotions and be able to speak about their feelings freely. We always tell them to have feelings and that whatever they feel is ok – it’s what you do with them that matters. Raising boys feels like a huge responsibility. But I do feel like there’s a lot of raising that our boys are doing to Marco and I. We’re guiding them as best we can.”

Read Zoe Saldana's interview in full at @MarieClaireUK.

Check out our Wellness Issue for more information on 2023 wellness trends and how to stay positive and find joy this year, from the benefits of mindful movement and strength training to turning failures into motivators - a mantra Zoe Saldana lives by.

As we begin another year, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the influx of ‘new year, new you’ messaging. The pressure to restrict, deprive and generally overhaul our lives is everywhere. Over at Marie Claire, however, our approach has always been slightly different. We’re not giving into the pressure to sign up to strict new pledges based on denial, or publicly committing to wildly optimistic regimes that neither suit our personalities or lifestyles. That’s why, in our Wellness Special this month, you’ll find practical insights from leading writers, experts, athletes and coaches that explore how to set realistic goals, embrace failure (if you’re serious about success), and build new sustainable routines that will make you feel stronger and more joyful. There’s also a healthy dose of inspiration from our incredible cover star, Avatar’s Zoe Saldana, who reveals how she prepared mentally and physically for her toughest challenge yet – resuming her role as Neytiri more than 13 years after the first film was released. Stay tuned all month for more of our #StartTheYearStrong campaign, which will feature across marieclaire.co.uk and our social channels. Here’s to a healthy, happy 2023. 

Zoe Saldana on the power of discipline, determination, and embracing our differences

You might be surprised by the health and wellness trends set to be big in 2023

Ever heard of mindful movement? Why choosing your workout based on your mood is key to improving your fitness

Failure might be the key to success - a psychologist unpacks why

Strength looks different on everyone: 10 benefits of strength training, plus how it could change your life

6 ways to stay positive and find joy in 2023

Not sure what you should be eating to feel more energised? A top nutritionist answers your questions

For our January cover, we welcomed Zoe Saldana to start off the year strong. Celebrity makeup artist Kate Synott effortlessly created this look in line with Zoe’s beautiful structure and flawless complexion. We can safely say we are obsessed and will be recreating this look throughout the year. With four easy steps, you, just like Zoe, can also achieve this look.

Step one: PREP SKIN 

To enhance Zoe’s sun-kissed glow, Synott used Givenchy Beauty’s priming products to prep the skin. To begin, she massaged a pearl-sized amount of Le Soin Noir Crème Yeux , £150, across the eyelids. This eye cream is packed with algae, a powerful ingredient that contains four different micronutrients that are essential to revealing the skin’s original youthful glow. This not only worked to prime Zoe’s eyes but also allowed for some selfcare pre-shoot.

To prep the rest of the face, Synott sprayed the Prisme Libre Prep & Set Glow Mist, £36.50, across her face as a veil of protective glow and hydration. Infused with SPF 45, this spray made sure that Zoe’s makeup remained intact with the LA heat whilst protecting her skin. 

Step Two: ACE YOUR BASE 

To make sure Zoe’s naturally smooth skin remained a strong focal point, Synott applied the foundation in thin layers. The foundation used to achieve this was a mixture of the Prisme Libre Skin-Caring Glow Foundation, £40, in 6-N405 and 5-N335 to create her perfect shade. 

Synott then applied two puffs of the Prisme Libre Powder, £45, in Popeline Mimosa. This loose powder was applied over the foundation to make sure Zoe kept a mattified and radiant look throughout the shoot.

She then applied the Prisme Libre Blush in Organza Sienne. This perfect blend of brick red and burnt sienna worked as a harmonious duo that matched Zoe’s dewy complexion creating a healthy, fresh flush. 

Step Three: BLEND, BLEND, BLEND  

To fully encapsulate Zoe’s naturally radiant look, Synott created the perfect natural smokey eye. This was done using the Le 9 De Givenchy Palette in N°05 LE 9.05, £62. To begin the look, the lightest shade in the palette was applied in the inner corner of the eye and arch of the eyebrows to highlight the focal points of the eye and brows. 

Synott then applied the neutral brown tone onto the mobile lid blending the colours towards the outer corner of the eye. After, a slight shimmery tone was brushed from the centre to the outer corner of the eye. This was then taken to the under eye with an angled brush for a more defined and intense gaze. The key to this look was blending these illustrious shades together to create a flawless yet neutral look.

Synott finished this makeup look with one single coat of Volume Disturbia. This mascara is intensely pigmented with a formula that makes for a clump-free application that promises a 93% of increase in volume with just one sweep - perfect for on the go!

Step Four: FINISH THE LOOK 

Zoe’s look was finished by adding some slight touches to her beautifully plumped lips. Synott began by sculpting the outline of her lips with the Lip Liner, £19.50 in Rose Mutin. This lip liner holds rich waxes to create a creamy formula that effortlessly glides onto the lips. To finish off, her makeup artist applied Le Rouge, £31.50 in the shade Beige Nu. Seamlessly completing a matte and natural combination of pink and beige tones onto the lips for a perfect healthy glow. 

Shop the look below: 

SHOOT CREDITS:

DIRECTOR AND PHOTOGRAPHER: NINO MUÑOZ

EDITOR IN CHIEF: ANDREA THOMPSON 

SHOOT AND FILM DIRECTOR: LISA OXENHAM 

WRITER: EMILY CRONIN 

SENIOR ART EDITOR: ANA OSPINA

CHIEF SUB-EDITOR: NICOLA MOYNE 

PRODUCER: SOFIA PIZA

MAKE-UP ARTIST: KATE SYNNOTT, USING GIVENCHY

BEAUTY STYLIST: KATIE MOSSMAN

HAIR STYLIST: MARA ROSZAK

NAIL ARTIST: EMI KUDO 

SET DESIGNER: ISAAC AARON 

SET ASSISTANT: MATT BANISTER

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: MARTY RUSH 

EDITS: KALIVS 

VIDEO PRODUCER: ALEXANDER JOHN

DIGITAL TECHNICIAN: BENOIST LECHEVALLIER 

COLOUR GRADE: MAX GRADES 

VIDEO INTERVIEWER: TOMER RONEN 

VIDEO PRODUCTION: ONE TEN MEDIA 

PHOTO ASSISTANTS: KURT MANGUM, WILLIAM MATHIEU AND GUI CHA 

STYLING ASSISTANTS: MELINETTE RODRIGUEZ AND JILL ROTH 

LOCATION: STROPA STUDIOS, LOS ANGELES

From Scratch is the new Netflix series many can’t stop raving about.

The eight-part series, starring Zoe Saldana, has touched the hearts of every viewer (and even we were in tears for numerous episodes). 

The romantic series hit the streaming platform on 21st October and is based on Tembi Locke’s book of the same name, which was released in 2019.

Many viewers have already taken to social media to gush about the show, which took them through all the emotions, and we think it is an absolute must watch.

For those who are in need of something new to watch on these dark, cold and dreary autumn nights, From Scratch is for you - but brace yourself for tears and heartache, as well as lighter moments, lusting over stunning landscapes, and salivating over tasty Italian cuisine. 

From the impressive cast, to the storyline, how to watch, and where it was set, we have all the details you need to know. 

Who stars in From Scratch?

From Scratch features Zoe Saldana, who takes on the lead role of budding artist Amy Wheeler, while Eugenio Mastrandrea plays her on-screen husband chef Lino Ortolano. 

Keith David takes on the role of Zoe’s on-screen father, Hershel Wheeler, Danielle Deadwyler as Zoe’s on-screen sister Maxine.

Isla Colbert takes on the role as Amy and Lino’s daughter, Idalia. 

The series also stars Judith Scott, Kellita Smith, Paride Benassai, Lucia Sardo, Roberta Rigano, and many more. 

Who produced From Scratch?

From Scratch is based on Tembi Locke’s 2019 book of the same name which became Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club Pick, as well as a New York Times bestseller. 

After reading the book, Reese met with Zoe and they spoke about producing the Netflix series together.

Reese’s production company, Hello Sunshine, took on the job while Zoe was on hand to executive produce, alongside her siblings Cisely and Mariel Saldana and Attica and Tembi Locke. 

Nzingha Stewart and Dennie Gordon directed the eight-part series.

The From Scratch storyline

IMDB has described the From Scratch mini-series as "an American woman falls in love with a Sicilian man while studying abroad in Italy."

But it is so much more than just a love story as it is entwined with plenty of subplots, including culture clashes, history, art, love, loss and family feuds.

For those who have yet to read the book by Tembi Locke and don’t want any spoilers - stop reading now. 

SPOILERS AHEAD

The series documents the everlasting love of Amy Wheeler and Lino Ortolano.

Amy leaves her home in Texas and halts her law degree to pursue her passion for art, which takes her to Florence, Italy for a semester. 

Conscious to make a life of her own and not rely on her parents to fund her dream, she works in a bar. Along the way Amy bumps into Lino in the cobbled streets of Florence and they instantly click - but she strikes up a romance with art gallery owner Giancarlo, much to Lino’s upset. 

Lino declares his love for Amy just before she leaves Italy for LA, and the couple become inseparable.

Lino gives up his restaurant and life in Italy for California, but struggles to feel at home in America. 

The move leaves him disheartened as he is struggling with his career and has no friends or family nearby, but Amy is doing fantastically well as she lands a job working at an art gallery. 

Running alongside this is both Amy and Lino’s fraught relationships with their families; Lino has fallen out with his father ever since he left his motherland of Sicily to pursue his dreams of being a chef instead of a farmer, while Amy quit law school, much to her lawyer father’s disappointment. However, Amy also has to deal with the fractured relationship between her mother and father, who has since remarried. 

Despite the bumps in the road, Amy and Lino are more in love than ever. 

Amy finds a group of Sicilian men that Lino can befriend and to watch football together and bond over their longing for Italian coffee. 

Amy proposes to Lino and they plan to marry where they met in Florence, but Lino’s father makes a point of not coming and forbids Lino’s mother, sister and niece from attending. 

The couple head to Sicily for their honeymoon, so Lino can introduce his family to his new wife and show Amy his beloved home, but his father tells him not to bother visiting. 

However, the father and son bump into each other at a market, but the rift remains as his father drives off. 

In secret, Amy manages to convince Lino’s sister to bring his mother and niece to meet them before they fly back to America, and they do. 

Lino is then hit with another bout of bad luck as the restaurant he is working at is forced to close, but he sees this as a chance to turn things around and prove his skill as a chef. After a successful evening creating tasty dishes, he is able to take on the restaurant. 

Amy pursues her dream of working with children at an art school, which also gives her time to practice her own art work.

However, after struggling with a knee injury, Lino is diagnosed with a rare tissue cancer, leiomyosarcoma. 

After chemotherapy and an operation to remove the tumour, he is then put on a new medication study to minimise the chances of cancer returning. 

It is in these heartbreaking moments Lino’s family come to his aide, and all families are united to support Lino, as well as Amy. 

Lino is unable to return to work and becomes a stay at home dad, while Amy is working long hours to provide for their family, including their adopted daughter Idalia. 

Despite seven years being cancer-free, the disease returns and Lino then suffers liver failure. They decide to send Lino home to spend his last moments in the comfort of his own home surrounded by his loved ones. 

Over the years, Lino writes his recipes and precious moments in a notebook which he can pass on to his daughter, like his mother did for him. 

When Lino passes, Amy and Idalia visit Sicily to see Lino’s mother and scatter his ashes. Despite some tension at first, Amy warms to Lino’s hometown, and vows to return as she feels her late husband everywhere she goes there. 

The plot takes even more twists and turns along the way, from Amy’s sister’s personal journey, as well as other losses in the family. 

Zoe Saldana has revealed she was encouraged to change her name and take on a stage name to help launch her acting career.

But the 43-year-old actor stuck to her guns and kept her own title, despite the words of advice.

Zoe is best known for playing the role of Gamora in Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, but she landed her big break in her first film in Center Stage in 2000.

She shared the advice given ahead of her taking on the role to Screenrant: "When I did Center Stage, I remember being discouraged by my management at that time to use my name.

"But their intention was never for me to stop being who I am. They celebrated who I was. But my manager at the time was a former singer and a ballroom performer, and she did change her name as well when she was a teenager back in the '60s, I believe. And she said it's what everybody does.

"But I still knew that I liked my name."

Zoe boasts an impressive career so far, having also starred in Avatar, Star Trek, as well as Crossroads, Pirates of the Caribbean and many more.

But the award-winning actor never would have believed she would be so successful, as she used to be "so nervous" when she first started out on the big screen.

Asked what advice she would give her younger self, Zoe said: "Don't be so nervous. I remember at that time, I was just so nervous because I was getting to do these projects for the very first time, and I was getting to travel to these places for the very first time. So there was a lot of nervousness that I felt, and always having to cover that up to look like I've been here before. But I would just tell her, 'Don't be so nervous. You belong.'"

And it's not OK.

Zoe Saldana is one of the most influential women in Hollywood, starring in Avatar, Guardians of the Galaxy and Star Trek.

But according to the sci fi star, her acting career has been an uphill battle, taking the moment to speak out about the challenges and discrimination she has faced this month.

The 39-year-old opened up in a recent interview with Cosmopolitan about how her first major film experience in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl left her feeling ‘a little bitter’ due to the ‘super elitist’ environment’, and this week she has elaborated even further.

In a new interview with Porter, the star got real about discrimination, explaining how her skin colour actually held her back when she first got into acting.

‘Every time I read a script, even if it was a period piece, I read it thinking that I was going to go after the lead role,’ the actress explained. ‘It wasn’t until I would come across the introduction of a supporting ethnic role that I realized, “Oh.”’

She continued: ‘I wasn’t even allowed to try to get that main role, because “they want to go traditional on the part.” I would hang up on that conversation from my agents, thinking, “What about me is non-traditional”? It was a very hard pill to swallow.’

‘In my country, where I pledged allegiance every day since I was five, to be told when I’m out there trying to pursue my American dream that I was not a traditional American was very hurtful,’ she explained.

‘I will never accept that I am not a traditional anything. I come from where I come from, I can’t change that, and you come from where you come from. But if you tell me that where you come from is the only right place, and therefore I don’t fit that traditional mould, let’s just establish, very clearly, that you are the one who’s wrong. Because everything about me and where I come from is just as right.’

Yes, Zoe Saldana!

'I left that experience feeling a little bitter’

Zoe Saldana is one of the most influential women in Hollywood, starring in Avatar, Guardians of the Galaxy and Star Trek.

But according to the sci fi star, things weren’t always so easy, with the 39-year-old explaining in a recent interview with Cosmopolitan how her first major film experience left her feeling ‘a little bitter’.

The actress got her big break in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl where she played the role of Anamaria the pirate. But according to Zoe, the ‘super elitist’ environment on set was difficult to cope with, involving ‘dealing with a lot of people who were great and a lot of people who were not so great’.

‘If I’m like “I could have been with my family, in school learning, or travelling, but instead I’m here being treated like an extra but in a very despicable way by people who don’t even speak properly…” my time is being wasted’, she explained to Cosmopolitan. ‘I left that experience feeling a little bitter’

In fact according to Zoe, she was dangerously close to leaving the industry because of it, but her next job, The Terminal, changed everything when Steven Spielberg made a big effort to rectify her past experiences.

‘I booked The Terminal right after so I got to work for an amazing director who is known for being humble and a mentor,’ she explained. ‘He remembered that I'd been made to feel so irrelevant before and he went out of his way to make me feel the exact opposite.’

And according to Zoe, that’s not going to change. ‘I don't want to go back to that,’ she explained. ‘I don't want to hear another man tell me, “Oh you were my muse”. I don't want to be your fucking muse anymore. I don't want you to just post me on your wall and look at me. I want you to listen to me!’.

'She was just being Britney.'

Every friendship has its bumps in the road and for Crossroads co-stars Zoe Saldana and Britney Spears, having the singer accidentally spill the beans about Zoe’s pregnancy is one of them. Back in 2014, Britney let it slip that the Guardians of the Galaxy star was expecting twins and Zoe Saldana has recently addressed it for the first time, saying that she was ‘shocked’.

In an interview with Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live, a fan called in to ask Zoe Saldana how she felt about the situation.

Saldana said, ‘We were on the same flight from L.A. to New York and we just talked for the duration of the flight. She has two boys, I was having twins, we had such a beautiful talk and I forgot [about it]. It never even occurred to me to tell her not to say anything because we weren’t trying to hide it, we were just trying to be discreet.’

The actress’ twin sons, Cy Aridio and Bowie Ezio, were born in November 2014 just a few months after the press caught wind of her pregnancy. She and her husband Marco Perego have also recently welcomed another addition to the family, Zen, who was born on February 18. (Britney dodged a bullet with that birth announcement.)

Speaking fondly of the pop star, Zoe said, ‘When she disclosed it, she was just being Britney. I love her [and] I don’t mean that in a negative way. I mean that in the way that she lives her life in such truth that I was shocked because we weren’t ready to sort of share that...but it was Britney so it was okay.’

However, the actress also revealed later on that she and Britney haven't spoken since the accidental announcement.

Zoe Saldana can currently be seen kicking ass and serving face onscreen in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 alongside Chris Pratt, Bradley Cooper and Dave Bautista. She plays Gamora, a green skinned assassin with a will-they-won’t-they relationship with Pratt’s Starlord, the roguish leader of their band of misfits.

Videos you may like:

Video you may like:

The actress has a lot to say about the realities of juggling family life with a movie career.

Zoe Saldana is one star who certainly isn't afraid to speak out when she believes in something.

The actress, 37, has spoken candidly about what it's like to be a mum in Hollywood, saying that movie bosses are sometimes more accommodating of the needs of men in the industry.

She stated that they'd rather 'spend more money perking up male superstars' with 'a really phat penthouse' than on childcare for women who are trying to juggle raising a family with their career.

'A woman comes in going, "Okay, I have a child. You're taking me away from my home. You're taking my children away from their home. And you're going to make me work a lot more hours than I usually would if I was home. 'Therefore, I would have to pay for this nanny for more hours — so I kind of need that.’" And they go, "Nope, we don't pay for nannies,'" Zoe told USA Today.

Zoe and husband Marco Perego welcomed twin sons Cy and Bowie back in December and it wasn't long before she returned to work.

The Guardians Of The Galaxy star went on to admit that caring for her boys when she's shooting can be a battle, but knows she can lean on Marco during difficult times.

She added: ''The battle will always be in trying to balance it out. That's the most exhausting thing, the balance of it all. But it helps when you're doing it with your companion. If I know Marco is trying to balance it as well, then I feel like I'm not alone.'

It's hardly surprising that Zoe feels so strongly about the issue. She believes she came close to being cut out of a script after announcing that she was expecting.

'Let me tell you something, it will never be the right time for anybody in your life that you get pregnant. The productions I was slated to work on sort of had a panic. I heard through the grapevine there was even a conversation of me being written off of one of the projects.

'I was like, "Oh, my God, are you kidding me? It's this bad? Right when I just feel super-duper happy, is that inconvenient for you? That me, as a woman in my thirties, I finally am in love and I am finally starting my life? And it's [screwing] your schedule up? Really?"'

Men of the world, listen to Zoe Saldana...

Yesterday the Internet was buzzing with the news that Zoe Saldana's husband, Marco, had taken her surname. Sadly, in 2015, this is seen as a bold move. Controversial, even.

The actress talked about her Italian husband's decision in an interview with InStyle, saying that she was more hesitant about the departure from tradition than he was. ‘I tried to talk him out of it,’ Zoe admitted. ‘If you use my name, you're going to be emasculated by your community of artists, by your Latin community of men, by the world.’

To which the 36-year-old painter apparently replied, ‘Ah Zoe, I don't give a sh*t.’

Now, in response to the chatter that this revelation has caused, Zoe has written a powerful feminist statement about what it means to be a real man and urges other men to follow in her husband's example.

This is her Facebook post in full - it's rousing stuff:

'Fathers, sons, brothers, men everywhere: Your legacy will not perish if you take your partner's surname, or she keeps hers. I’ve been made aware that a comment I made regarding my marriage has garnered some attention. I felt proud that my husband decided to take my last name as his own... and I his. I shared my hesitation with him when he told me about his decision, not only did he say, “I don’t give a shhheeeetttt!!” (with a very strong Italian accent!!) he also asked me, “Why not? What are you so afraid of?" And it made me wonder... What am I so afraid of?

Why is it so surprising, shocking, eventful that a man would take his wife's surname? Women have never been asked if its ok for them to give up their names — why doesn’t that make the news?

Men, you will not cease to exist by taking your partner’s surname. On the contrary - you’ll be remembered as a man who stood by change. I know our sons will respect and admire their father more because their father lead by example.

Gentlemen, I implore you to think outside the box - remove the box altogether. Let’s redefine masculinity. A real “man” leads along side his partner. A real man accepts his mortality. A real man acknowledges that nothing can be done alone.

I hope that the “buzz” behind this topic isn’t just for gossip - but an inspiration for us all to look within and see what is truly important.

Let’s start by letting go of some of the limitations we have inherited from the past, and forge a new path moving forward.'

So, if you think your partner might be thinking of popping the question soon, why not float the idea of him taking your name... what's the worst that could happen?

As Zoe Saldana reveals her husband has taken her surname, why aren't more men comfortable with the idea of following his lead?

You’re out for dinner with your boyfriend, when you notice he seems a little bit distracted. He can’t keep his wine glass steady in his hand, and when he places it on the table, he knocks it off with his elbow three seconds later. Then, just when you’re about to accuse him of being hungover on a schoolnight and loudly berate him for his drinking habits, he’s down on one knee, and asking you to marry him.

‘Alright,’ you say, through tears of relief that he wasn’t secretly knocking back shots of tequila until 3am. ‘Go on then.’

‘There’s one condition,’ he replies. ‘I want to take your surname.’

Sound unlikely? Well, if Zoe Saldana’s husband gets his way, maybe not for long. The actress has revealed that her partner, Marco Peggo, insisted upon taking “Saldana” for a surname, even though he knew it was (unfortunately) a controversial move.

‘I tried to talk him out of it,’ Zoe admitted in her interview with InStyle. ‘If you use my name, you're going to be emasculated by your community of artists, by your Latin community of men, by the world.’

To which the 36-year-old painter apparently replied, ‘Ah Zoe, I don't give a sh*t.’

And while your little feminist heart explodes with joy, (and a thousand illustrators rush to create a series of Tumblr cartoons featuring Marco quoting Simone De Beauvoir while clutching a basketful of kittens), it raises the question why so many men are still reluctant to sacrifice their own surnames when it comes to tying the knot.

After all, a recent statistic revealed that more than 50 per cent of all Americans believe the woman should be legally required to take her husband’s name when she gets married. And while the concept of creating a unified family identity makes sense (at least as much sense as spending £300 on a wedding cake that you’re only going to leave in the freezer for 18 years at any rate), why should it be assumed that the woman who gives up her surname for the man?

In fact, the inequality is so ingrained that if a man wants to change his surname, he has to pay £33 to do it by deed poll – whereas a woman gets to tick a box on the marriage certificate too.

Of course, if the couple wants to double-barrel their surnames (as approximately half of all UK couples now choose to do) all is well, but what happens in a few generations’ time – do our great, great, great, great, great grandchildren have eight surnames to squish onto their Twitter handles?

Or is it time to start taking the initials from each one, and go all out for an acronym? Because if that’s the case, we really can’t wait for Mr Smith-Eccleston to meet Miss Xylophone-Young.

The two actresses vied for the title of best dressed at the sci-fi film's Berlin premiere

Zoe Saldana and Alice Eve vied for the title of best dressed last night as they hit the red carpet for the Berlin premiere of Star Trek: Into Darkness.

Zoe, who plays the character of Nyota Uhura in the upcoming sci-fi film, wowed in a sparkling gold and pink top and fuchsia tulip skirt from Balmain's autumn/winter 2013 collection, which she teamed with mesh pumps by Christian Louboutin and EF Collection jewellery.

Alice, meanwhile, opted for a far simpler, but no less striking, look in a vibrant red floor-length gown with sexy cut-out detailing under the chest by Emilio Pucci. Rene Caovilla heels and a flash of classic scarlet lipstick completed her look.

The two actresses were joined by Star Trek co-stars Chris Pine, Simon Pegg and Zachary Quinto, as well as the film's director J.J. Abrams at the screening in the German capital.

But who wins the Star Trek fashion face-off for you – Zoe Saldana or Alice Eve? Cast your vote in the comments box below!

ZOE SALDANA TALKS FAVOURITE SEX POSITIONS

ZOE SALDANA AND KATE BOSWORTH DAZZLE AT TARGET LAUNCH

LATEST ZOE SALDANA NEWS

Got a tablet? You can now download Marie Claire magazine straight to your iPad, Kindle (just search the store for Marie Claire magazine), Nook or Google Nexus

The couple have reportedly gone their separate ways

Bradley Cooper and Zoe Saldana have been romantically linked since they were spotted kissing back in December, but a close friend of the hot couple has confirmed the split and said they were never 'serious' in the first place.

'They're definitely not together,' the insider told Us magazine.

ZOE SALDANA STYLE EVOLUTION

Adding: '[Saldana] and Bradley weren't super-serious at all.'

Avatar actress Saldana, 33, had reportedly moved in with 37-year-old Cooper several months ago after calling off her engagement to fiance Keith Britton, after an 11-year-relationship, earlier that year.

SHOCK CELEBRITY SPLITS

Cooper, who was previously married to Jennifer Esposito and also dated Renee Zellweger, is set to return to the big screen for the third installment of The Hangover, scheduled to hit cinemas in May 2013.

We can't say we're devastated to hear that Cooper is back on the market!

MORE CELEBRITY NEWS

The actress takes over from Reese Witherspoon to front the latest ad campaign for the cosmetics company

Zoe Saldana has followed in the fashionable footsteps of Reese Witherspoon to become Avon's newest leading lady.

The Avatar actress fronts the ad campaign for Avon's new Eternal Magic fragrance, and will also feature in their latest catalogue as the face of the Colour Cosmetics collection.

‘It means so much to me to be associated with a company that shares my values and believes in empowering women,' says Zoe.

The perfume campaign shows Miss Saldana looking her effortlessly elegant self in a fairytale lilac gown, promoting the scent ‘inspired by the rare Princess Monaco rose.'

‘We are thrilled to have Zoe as the spokesperson for Eternal Magic,' says Geralyn Breig, Avon's Senior Vice President.

‘Every woman wants to be unforgettable and Zoe perfectly embodies that feeling. She's a rising star in Hollywood - and has built a strong reputation for playing empowering characters that leave a lasting impression.'

SEE MORE ZOE SALDANA

SHOP AVON PRODUCTS THROUGH MARIE CLAIRE'S SHOPPING CHANNEL!