Zoe Saldana on Her Challenging Experience with ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ and How Steven Spielberg Restored Her Faith in Hollywood

Zoe Saldana, known for her roles in blockbuster franchises such as ‘Avatar,’ ‘Guardians of the Galaxy,’ and ‘Star Trek,’ recently opened up about her challenging experience working on ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.’ During a Screen Talk at the BFI London Film Festival, Saldana shared that her first major blockbuster experience was not as positive as one might expect. Despite the cast and crew being “super marvelous,” she felt the leadership from the studio, producers, and the director lacked kindness, awareness, and consideration, making the production a tumultuous experience for her.

Saldana reflected on how this experience almost made her lose her passion for working on big-budget projects. She recalled feeling “lost in the trenches” and not supported by the leadership during the production of ‘Pirates of the Caribbean.’ Years later, producer Jerry Bruckheimer personally apologized to her for the difficulties she faced on set.

However, her faith in Hollywood was restored when she worked with Steven Spielberg on the 2004 film ‘The Terminal.’ Saldana praised Spielberg for creating a positive and safe working environment, which she described as feeling “so good and so safe” throughout the shoot. She highlighted how Spielberg would play music over the loudspeakers between scenes to ensure everyone was “synchronized and on the same page,” an approach that left a lasting impact on her.

Saldana is currently promoting her new film, ‘Emilia Pérez,’ a musical crime comedy directed by Jacques Audiard. The film tells the story of Emilia, a drug cartel leader who enlists Rita (played by Saldana) to help her fake her death and undergo gender-affirming surgery. The film, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May, features a star-studded cast including Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez, Adriana Paz, Mark Ivanir, and Édgar Ramírez. ‘Emilia Pérez’ will be released on Netflix on November 13.

Saldana emphasized that ‘Emilia Pérez’ is a story about four women on a journey to become their most authentic selves and find freedom and love. She also expressed the significance of the film’s visibility, particularly after winning the best actress award at Cannes, which she said she “needed so much” and helped her understand how invisible she had been feeling).