Zoe Saldaña is an American actress best known for her roles in blockbuster franchises including Avatar, Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers and Star Trek. Her performances as Neytiri and Gamora have helped make her one of the most commercially successful actors in cinema history.
Saldaña achieved another major milestone in 2025 when she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Emilia Pérez. By 2026, the combined worldwide earnings of her films had also made her the highest-grossing actor in global box-office history.
Quick Facts About Zoe Saldaña
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Zoë Yadira Saldaña-Perego |
| Professional Name | Zoe Saldaña |
| Date of Birth | June 19, 1978 |
| Age | 48 years old |
| Birthplace | Passaic, New Jersey, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Actress and producer |
| Years Active | 1999–present |
| Husband | Marco Perego-Saldaña |
| Children | Three sons |
| Famous Roles | Neytiri, Gamora, Nyota Uhura |
| Major Franchises | Avatar, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Trek |
| Academy Award | Best Supporting Actress for Emilia Pérez |
| Estimated Net Worth | About $80 million |
Zoe Saldaña Early Life and Family
Zoe Saldaña was born on June 19, 1978, in Passaic, New Jersey. She was raised primarily in Queens, New York, and has Dominican and Puerto Rican family roots.
Her father, Aridio Saldaña, was Dominican, while her mother, Asalia Nazario, has Puerto Rican heritage. Saldaña grew up alongside her sisters, Cisely and Mariel.
Her father died in a car accident when she was still young. Afterwards, Saldaña and her family spent several years living in the Dominican Republic.
Her multicultural upbringing later became an important part of her identity. Saldaña speaks openly about her Caribbean heritage and has frequently celebrated her Dominican and Puerto Rican roots.
Zoe Saldaña Education and Dance Training
While living in the Dominican Republic, Saldaña developed a strong interest in dance. She trained in different styles, with ballet becoming particularly important to her.
After returning to New York, she became involved with youth theatre groups. Her dance training and stage experience eventually helped her transition into professional acting.
Rather than following a traditional university path into the entertainment industry, Saldaña built her early career through dance, theatre and auditions.
Zoe Saldaña Early Acting Career
Saldaña made one of her earliest television appearances on Law & Order in 1999. Her dance background helped her secure her first major film role soon afterwards.
She appeared as Eva Rodriguez in the 2000 film Center Stage, which focused on young ballet dancers. The role allowed Saldaña to combine her dance training with acting.
She continued taking supporting roles in films during the early 2000s. One of her most recognisable appearances from this period was Anamaria in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.
Her career steadily developed as she moved from smaller roles into major Hollywood productions.
Zoe Saldaña in Star Trek
A major breakthrough came when Saldaña was cast as Nyota Uhura in J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek, released in 2009.
The film introduced the long-running science-fiction franchise to a new generation. Saldaña returned as Uhura in Star Trek Into Darkness and Star Trek Beyond.
Her performance helped establish her as an actress capable of taking leading roles in major international franchises.
However, Star Trek was only one of several science-fiction properties that would eventually define her career.
Zoe Saldaña as Neytiri in Avatar
Also in 2009, Saldaña appeared as Neytiri in James Cameron’s Avatar. The role required extensive performance-capture work to bring the Na’vi character to life.
Avatar became a worldwide box-office phenomenon and one of the most commercially successful films ever released.
Saldaña returned as Neytiri in Avatar: The Way of Water in 2022. She again played the character in Avatar: Fire and Ash, released in December 2025.
The continued success of the franchise has made Neytiri one of Saldaña’s signature roles. Her involvement in multiple Avatar films has also contributed significantly to her record-breaking career box-office total.
Zoe Saldaña as Gamora in Marvel
Saldaña joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Gamora in Guardians of the Galaxy in 2014.
The green-skinned assassin quickly became another of her most famous characters. Saldaña reprised the role across several Marvel productions.
She appeared in the Guardians of the Galaxy sequels as well as Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Several of these movies became some of the highest-grossing films ever made.
Her combination of the Avatar and Marvel franchises placed Saldaña in an unusual position in Hollywood. She has appeared in multiple films that individually earned more than $2 billion worldwide.
Emilia Pérez and Zoe Saldaña’s Oscar Win
Saldaña received some of the strongest critical recognition of her career for her performance as Rita Mora Castro in the musical crime drama Emilia Pérez.
Her performance produced a highly successful awards season. She won major supporting-actress honours including a Golden Globe, BAFTA and Screen Actors Guild Award.
The biggest achievement came at the 2025 Academy Awards, where Saldaña won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.
It was her first Academy Award. Her victory was also historically significant because she became the first American of Dominican origin to win an acting Oscar.
The achievement demonstrated that Saldaña’s career extended beyond blockbuster franchises. It established her as an Academy Award-winning dramatic actress after more than two decades in Hollywood.
Zoe Saldaña Becomes the Highest-Grossing Actor
Saldaña reached another remarkable career milestone after the release of Avatar: Fire and Ash.
By January 2026, the worldwide box-office earnings of films featuring Saldaña had risen beyond $15 billion. This pushed her ahead of other major Hollywood stars and made her the highest-grossing actor in worldwide cinema history based on cumulative box-office performance.
Her record has been driven largely by her involvement in Avatar, Marvel and Star Trek. She has also appeared in other successful films across several genres.
The achievement does not mean Saldaña personally earned those billions. Instead, it refers to the combined worldwide ticket sales generated by films in which she has appeared.
Zoe Saldaña Husband and Marriage
Zoe Saldaña is married to Marco Perego-Saldaña, an Italian artist and filmmaker.
The couple met in 2013 and married later that year. Their relationship has attracted attention partly because Perego adopted Saldaña’s surname after their marriage.
The couple has remained together while maintaining a relatively private family life. Marco has also developed creative projects of his own while supporting his wife’s acting career.
Saldaña occasionally shares details about their marriage but generally keeps intimate family matters away from constant public attention.
Zoe Saldaña Children
Zoe Saldaña and Marco Perego-Saldaña have three sons.
Their twin sons, Cy Aridio and Bowie Ezio, were born in 2014. Their youngest son, Zen Anton Hilario, was born in 2016.
Saldaña has spoken about balancing motherhood with the demands of an international acting career. She and her husband have also worked to keep their sons connected with their multicultural family heritage.
The actress is known for protecting her children’s privacy, although the family occasionally makes public appearances together.
Zoe Saldaña Net Worth and Earnings
Zoe Saldaña’s net worth is estimated at approximately $80 million in 2026. However, this figure is an independent celebrity-wealth estimate and should not be treated as an officially disclosed amount.
Her fortune has primarily been built through more than two decades of acting. Major franchises such as Avatar, Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers and Star Trek have played an important role in her commercial success.
Saldaña also earns money through producing, endorsements and other entertainment-related projects.
Her status as the highest-grossing actor does not mean her personal wealth equals the enormous ticket sales of her movies. Box-office grosses are divided among studios, distributors, cinemas and other participants.
Zoe Saldaña’s Career and Legacy
The Zoe Saldaña biography combines commercial success with growing critical recognition. She has played central characters in several of the world’s biggest movie franchises while continuing to take more dramatic and character-driven roles.
Her 2025 Academy Award and her 2026 position as the highest-grossing actor in worldwide box-office history represent two very different forms of Hollywood achievement.
At 48 years old, Saldaña remains active in film and television. Her roles as Neytiri, Gamora and Uhura have already established a lasting place for her in modern popular culture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Who is Zoe Saldaña?
Zoe Saldaña is an American actress and producer known for playing Neytiri in Avatar, Gamora in Marvel films and Uhura in Star Trek. She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Emilia Pérez in 2025.
Q2: How old is Zoe Saldaña?
Zoe Saldaña is 48 years old as of 2026. She was born on June 19, 1978, in Passaic, New Jersey.
Q3: What is Zoe Saldaña’s net worth in 2026?
Zoe Saldaña’s net worth is estimated at approximately $80 million in 2026. Her wealth comes mainly from acting, producing, endorsements and her involvement in several major Hollywood franchises.
Q4: Who is Zoe Saldaña’s husband?
Zoe Saldaña is married to Marco Perego-Saldaña, an Italian artist and filmmaker. They married in 2013 and have three children together.
Q5: How many children does Zoe Saldaña have?
Zoe Saldaña has three sons with her husband Marco Perego-Saldaña. They are twins Cy and Bowie and their younger brother Zen.
Q6: Did Zoe Saldaña win an Oscar?
Yes. Zoe Saldaña won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2025 for her performance as Rita Mora Castro in Emilia Pérez. It was the first Oscar of her career.
Q7: Is Zoe Saldaña the highest-grossing actor of all time?
Yes. In 2026, Zoe Saldaña became the highest-grossing actor in worldwide box-office history based on the combined ticket sales of films in which she has appeared. Her success has been driven heavily by the Avatar, Marvel and Star Trek franchises.
