Zoe Saldaña Reflects on Career Milestone After Golden Globe Win

Zoe Saldaña has expressed deep gratitude to the filmmakers who have supported her throughout her 25-year career, following her win for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy at the Golden Globe Awards for her role in Emilia Perez.

In the press room after the ceremony, Saldaña shared that she received a congratulatory message from Avatar director James Cameron, who is currently working on Avatar: Fire and Ash in New Zealand. Saldaña revealed that Cameron’s message reaffirmed his belief in her as an artist. "After all these years, he believes in me. So that, to me, nourishes my desire to continue growing as an artist," she said.

Cameron has long praised Saldaña’s talents, describing her as one of the finest actors he has worked with, despite her playing a CGI character in the Avatar franchise. In a 2023 interview for Variety, Cameron referred to Saldaña as “ferocious,” adding, “She can go from regal to, in two nanoseconds, utterly feral. The woman is ferocious. She is a freaking lioness.”

Saldaña’s success at the Golden Globes comes after a long and impressive career. She has starred in the three highest-grossing films of all time: Avatar (2009), Avatar: The Way of Water (2022), and Avengers: Endgame (2019). However, this year has marked a shift for Saldaña, as she has begun to earn critical acclaim and awards recognition that previously eluded her.

“I feel joy because there’s a sense of presence,” Saldaña explained. “I’ve always been employed, and I’ve always had amazing, undeniably talented filmmakers who believe in me.” Reflecting on her career, Saldaña added, "This recognition is paramount for my continuation as an artist."

At 46, Saldaña also reflected on the path her career might have taken. “There was a moment a couple of years ago where I was thinking about, ‘Do I go into a homestead and start planting a garden?’ But the truth is, I’m an artist through and through, and I need to create every day."

She also took the opportunity to express gratitude to Emilia Perez director Jacques Audiard, who believed in her potential after a series of auditions and conversations. “I’m indebted to filmmakers like Jacques Audiard that really decided to bet on me,” Saldaña said.