THE MUSEO NAZIONALE DEL CINEMA PROUDLY INTRODUCES ZOE SALDAÑA
The actress meets the public at the Mole Antonelliana and Cinema Massimo, where she will introduce the premiere of Jacques Audiard's film EMILIA PÉREZ
Considered one of the most respected powerhouses of her generation with a remarkable career spanning more than 20 years as an actor and producer, Zoe Saldaña will be the special guest at the Museo Nazionale del Cinema in Turin (Italy) on December 2nd. In conversation with the Museum's director Carlo Chatrian, Saldaña will retrace the most important stages of her career, tackling themes dear to her heart such as the role of women and violence in society as well as her concern for the environment and climate change.
A versatile and talented actress, Saldañais known for her ability to completely immerse herself in the characters she plays, often with a strong physicality and intense emotionality. Thanks to her background as a dancer, Saldaña uses her body in an expressive way to convey emotions that transcend verbal language. Whether Gamora in the Avengers Franchise or Neytiri in James Cameron’s AVATAR films, Saldaña makes her characters believable and human, capable of combining physical strength, gentleness and determination. Her latest performance in Jacques Audiard’s EMILIA PÉREZ as Rita, for which she received the prestigious Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival alongside the female ensemble including Karla Sofia Gascon, Selena Gomez and Adriana Paz - displays a new dimension of her artistic ability.
“We are very happy to welcome one of the actresses who best embodies the variety of proposals hosted in the exhibition halls of the Museo Nazionale del Cinema” says Carlo Chatrian, Director of the Museo Nazionale del Cinema. “A splendid counterpoint to the 'Movie Icons' exhibition, Zoe Saldaña is a cinematic icon beloved by young audiences, but also a well-rounded figure imbued with deep humanity. In the roles of the 'warriors' Neytiri and Gamora, as well as the lawyer Rita Mora Castro, Saldaña has brought to life a vision of femininity that combines both sweetness and strength”.
Her career began with a breakout role in the 2000 film CENTER STAGE and skyrocketed with her portrayal as Nyota Uhura in STAR TREK, beginning in 2009. The same year, she played Neytiri in James Cameron's AVATAR a role she reprised in the sequel AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER (2022), with three additional instalments to follow. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, she is known for her role as Gamora in the GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY and AVENGERS movies. Her other credits include OUT OF THE FURNACE, THE ADAM PROJECT, CROSSROADS, DRUMLINE, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN, THE LOSERS, TAKERS, COLOMBIANA and more.
Earlier this year, Saldaña lead and executive produced the independent film THE ABSENCE OF EDEN, and can currently be seen starring in second season of Taylor Sheridan’s undercover CIA drama series for Paramount+ LIONESS where she leads a fantastic cast including Nicole Kidman and Morgan Freeman, as well as executive producer.
During her staying in Turin, Zoe Saldaña will receive the Stella della Mole Award, will meet the public and present Dovecote, a short film shot by her husband, the artist Marco Perego, that will join the conversation. Dovecote, an entry for Academy Awards Short Category, was presented at the Venice Biennale 2024 in the Vatican Pavillion.
Saldaña will also introduce the original musical EMILIA PÉREZ. Directed by Jacques Audiard and French entry for the International Feature Category at the Academy Awards 2025, the film received the prestigious Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival and 4 nominations at EFA including the one for the Best Film.
EMILIA PÉREZ will be released in Italy on January 9th by Lucky Red.