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Zoe Saldaña

Zoe Saldaña

Actor and producer, also director · Born June 19, 1978 (48) · Passaic, New Jersey, USA

Oscar winner · Golden Globe winner · BAFTA Award winner · 3 other major award bodies

Zoë Yadira Saldaña-Perego (/sɑːlˈdænjə/ sahl-DAN-yə, Latin American Spanish: [ˈso.e salˈdaɲa]; née Saldaña Nazario; born June 19, 1978) is an American actress. Known primarily for her work in science fiction film franchises, she has starred in four of the seven highest-grossing films of all time, including the top three (Avatar, Avatar: The Way of Water, and Avengers: Endgame). Films she has appeared in have grossed more than $15 billion worldwide, and, as of 2024, she is the second highest-grossing lead actress and the highest-grossing actress overall.  Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2023. A trained dancer, Saldaña began her on-screen acting career in 1999 with a guest role in Law & Order. Her first film role was in Center Stage(2000), where she played a ballet dancer. She received early recognition for her work opposite Britney Spears in the road film Crossroads (2002). Beginning in 2009, Saldaña achieved a career breakthrough with her roles as Nyota Uhura in the Star Trek reboot film series and Neytiri in James Cameron's Avatar film series. She portrayed Gamora in five films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, from Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023). In addition to franchise work, Saldaña has starred in the science fiction film The Adam Project and the romantic drama miniseries From Scratch, both for Netflix in 2022. In 2023, she began playing the lead role of a CIA officer in the Paramount+ spy series Lioness. In 2024, Saldaña starred in the musical crime film Emilia Pérez, for which she received several accolades, including the Academy Award, BAFTA Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress. Description above from the Wikipedia article Zoe Saldaña, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 19, 1978 (48)
From
Passaic, New Jersey, USA
Works as
Actor and producer, also director
Titles
68 on MovieCove · 85 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 156 days to Oct 27Down 37% in 30 days

What are Zoe Saldaña's films like?

Across their 54 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Action17 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 80th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Comedy11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 35th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Animation5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 70th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies
Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 54th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 33rd percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 91st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
33%
Self
21%
Morality
17%
Survival
15%
Society
9%
Ideas
3%
Power
2%
Family bonds21 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief10 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity9 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity10 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship9 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty9 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption7 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 47 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 23 · Serious 12 · Dark 12

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 18 · Stylized 18 · Heightened 11

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 8 · Charged 21 · Intense 18

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 15 · Shifting 27 · Whiplash 5

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 20 · Some laughs 16 · Funny 11

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 10 · Even-paced 28 · Relentless 9

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 15 · Engaged 29 · Full focus 2

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 16 · Affecting 17 · Heavy 14

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 39 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

33 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 10 of 33 analyzed roles.

Ally
10 of 33
Hero
10 of 33
Mentor
5 of 33
Herald
3 of 33
Shapeshifter
3 of 33
Threshold guardian
2 of 33
Show the 33 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
24
Thrilling
19
Hopeful
21
Melancholic
21
Bittersweet
15
Other
49

How their films linger

Hopeful22 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet20 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 6 with a twist

  • Happy20
  • Bittersweet24
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous9

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Zoe Saldaña's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 57 of their 68 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Disney+ (14).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Zoe Saldaña's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

85 credits, 68 with a MovieCove page; 46 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Avatar 5 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2031)

    as Neytiri

  • Avatar 4 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2029)

    as Neytiri

  • It's Complicated (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Executive Producer

  • The Invite(2026)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Julián(2026)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Bluff(2026)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Avatar: Fire and Ash(2025)

    as Neytiri

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Elio(2025)

    as Olga Solís (voice)

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • ASCO: Without Permission (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Actor

  • Dovecote (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Producer · Actor

  • Emilia Pérez(2024)

    Songs · as Rita

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • The Absence of Eden(2023)

    Producer · as Esmee / Carmen

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Meet Me in Rome (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Executive Producer

  • Good Burger 2(2023)

    as Zoe Saldaña

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Lioness(2023)

    Show 24 episodes · Executive Producer · as Joe McNamara

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3(2023)

    as Gamora

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • MPower(2023)

    Show 4 episodes · Executive Producer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all shows

  • Meet Me in Paris(2023)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Avatar: The Way of Water(2022)

    as Neytiri

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • From Scratch(2022)

    Show 8 episodes · as Amy Wheeler

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows

  • Amsterdam(2022)

    as Irma St. Clair

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Gordita Chronicles(2022)

    Show 10 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • Mamas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 15 episodes · Executive Producer

  • The Adam Project(2022)

    as Laura

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Maya and the Three(2021)

    Show 9 episodes · as Princess Maya (voice)

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Vivo(2021)

    as Rosa (voice)

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Marvel Studios: Legends(2021)

    Show 9 episodes · as Gamora (archive footage) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all shows

  • Vampires vs. the Bronx(2020)

    as Becky

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Home Movie: The Princess Bride (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Show 1 episode · as Princess Buttercup

  • 19 Weeks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Producer

  • Avengers: Endgame(2019)

    as Gamora

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Missing Link(2019)

    as Adelina Fortnight (voice)

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • The Honor List(2018)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Avengers: Infinity War(2018)

    as Gamora

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • I Kill Giants(2017)

    as Mrs. Mollé

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • My Little Pony: The Movie(2017)

    as Captain Celaeno (voice)

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2(2017)

    as Gamora

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Live by Night(2016)

    as Graciella Suarez

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Ask the StoryBots(2016)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Star Trek Beyond(2016)

    as Lieutenant Nyota Uhura

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Nina(2016)

    as Nina Simone

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Unity(2015)

    as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • The Book of Life(2014)

    as Maria (voice)

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Guardians of the Galaxy(2014)

    as Gamora

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Rosemary's Baby(2014)

    Show 2 episodes · Producer · as Rosemary Woodhouse

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all shows

  • Infinitely Polar Bear(2014)

    as Maggie

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Out of the Furnace(2013)

    as Lena Taylor

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Blood Ties(2013)

    as Vanessa

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Star Trek Into Darkness(2013)

    as Lieutenant Nyota Uhura

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Words(2012)

    as Dora Jansen

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Kaylien (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Director

  • Colombiana(2011)

    as Cataleya Restrepo

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Ropes(2011)

    Show Director

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • Takers(2010)

    as Lilli

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Burning Palms(2010)

    as Sarah Cotton

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • The Losers(2010)

    as Aisha

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Death at a Funeral(2010)

    as Elaine

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Avatar(2009)

    as Neytiri

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Star Trek(2009)

    as Lieutenant Nyota Uhura

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Skeptic(2008)

    as Cassie

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Vantage Point(2008)

    as Angie Jones

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Blackout (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Claudine

  • After Sex(2007)

    as Kat

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Constellation(2005)

    as Rosa Boxer

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Six Degrees(2006)

    Show 3 episodes · as Regina

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Ways of the Flesh(2006)

    as Donna

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Premium(2006)

    as Charli

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • The Curse of Father Cardona (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Flor

  • Dirty Deeds(2005)

    as Rachel Buff

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Guess Who(2005)

    as Theresa Jones

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Temptation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Annie

  • Haven(2004)

    as Andrea

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • The Terminal(2004)

    as Torres

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl(2003)

    as Anamaria

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Drumline(2002)

    as Laila

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Crossroads(2002)

    as Kit

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Snipes(2001)

    as Cheryl

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Get Over It(2001)

    as Maggie

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Center Stage(2000)

    as Eva Rodríguez

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Gabrielle Vega

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Belinca

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Don't Forget Me Tomorrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • Positano (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • Riverrun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Dr. Cruz

  • Sabaya (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 84 titles, 78 of them dated from 1990 to 2026; peak year 2010.

Biggest box office

Avatar (2009)

$2.9B worldwide

Highest rated

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Lioness (2023)

Film career

19902026

Peak 2010 · at the high point of their film career. Top draw in 31 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting72 of 84: 67 only acting, 5 with another role · typical Midcredits score65thDirecting1 of 84: 1 only directing, 0 with another roleProducing14 of 84: 10 only producing, 4 with another role · typical Midcredits score32ndOther crew2 of 84: 1 only other crew, 1 with another role

84 titles, 5 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 4 of them.

By decade

1990s2 · acting2000s22 · acting2010s26 · 24 acting · 3 crew2020s28 · 18 acting · 14 crew

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 9% of 44 roles
0005101520

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

an Oscar, a Golden Globe, a BAFTA Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award and 3 other major awards from 9 major nominations, 2015–2025.

WinNomination
  1. 2025
    • Oscar, won · Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
    • Golden Globe, won · Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture
    • BAFTA Award, won · Best Supporting Actress
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
    • +1 other major body · 2 wins
      • Critics Choice Award, won · Best Song
      • Critics Choice Award, won · Best Supporting Actress
  2. 2024
    • Cannes award, won
  3. 2015
    • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Actress in an Action Movie

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Zoe Saldaña's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 57th percentile, the median of all 56; across their 47 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 53rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

53rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 47

Approval · how many liked their films

59thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 47

Reach · how many have seen their films

94thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 47

Midcredits score across 68 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up24
  • 50th to 74th17
  • 25th to 49th16
  • Below 25th11

Shape of the crowd

26 of their 68 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved12
  • Loved with Detractors1
  • Divisive4
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser26
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed21

Most divisive · producer

Julián (2026)

96th percentile spread · 27% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Midcredits 99th · 91% liked

Reviewers score the acting 68/100 in their films, across 43 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 42. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Zoe Saldaña's work okay for kids?

Across up to 39 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore31 titles20–80 · median 55 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity39 titles9–50 · median 31 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity33 titles15–77 · median 48 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs31 titles2–52 · median 31 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense31 titles10–69 · median 53 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Zoe Saldaña work with?

People who share at least 2 of Zoe Saldaña's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Sigourney Weaver shares the most, 6.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Editors

Producers

Mixed roles