Few actors can claim their work has been seen by more people worldwide. Zoe Saldaña has spent two decades anchoring some of the biggest film franchises in history—Avatar, Star Trek, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe—all while keeping much of her personal life deliberately private. This fact-checked profile separates confirmed biography from the search-engine rumors that often surround her.
Born: June 19, 1978 · Passaic, New Jersey · Known for: Avatar, Star Trek, Guardians of the Galaxy · Heritage: Dominican and Puerto Rican · Spouse: Marco Perego (m. 2013) · Children: 3
Quick snapshot
- Born June 19, 1978 (IMDb (actor biography database))
- Passaic, New Jersey (IMDb (actor biography database))
- Dominican-Puerto Rican heritage (IMDb (actor biography database))
- Center Stage (2000) film debut (IMDb (actor biography database))
- Avatar, Star Trek, and MCU franchises (The Guardian (major British newspaper))
- Oscar winner in 2025 (Biography.com (editorial biography outlet))
- Publicly discussed ADHD (disclosure, not diagnosis) (Biography.com (editorial biography outlet))
- No confirmed LGBTQ statement (IMDb (actor biography database))
- Bradley Cooper link reported 2011–2012 (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia))
- Net worth is an estimate (multiple sources) (Celebrity Net Worth (entertainment aggregator))
- Married to Marco Perego since 2013 (IMDb (actor biography database))
- Mother of three (IMDb (actor biography database))
10 key facts, one pattern: Saldaña’s career scale dwarfs her personal disclosures—public record is strong on filmography but thin on health, wealth, and identity details.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Zoe Yadira Saldaña Nazario (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)) |
| Birth date | June 19, 1978 (IMDb (actor biography database)) |
| Birthplace | Passaic, New Jersey, U.S. (IMDb (actor biography database)) |
| Parents | Aridio Saldaña (father), Asalia Nazario (mother) (IMDb (actor biography database)) |
| First credited role | Law & Order (1999) (Realtor.com (real estate and celebrity news)) |
| Film debut | Center Stage (2000) (IMDb (actor biography database)) |
| Signature roles | Neytiri (Avatar), Uhura (Star Trek), Gamora (MCU) (IMDb (actor biography database)) |
| Spouse | Marco Perego (married 2013) (IMDb (actor biography database)) |
| Children | 3 (IMDb (actor biography database)) |
| Notable award | Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, Emilia Pérez (2025) (Biography.com (editorial biography outlet)) |
Saldaña’s public record is transparent about family origin and film credits but deliberately opaque about finances and health. Readers should treat any single “net worth” number or unverified medical claim with caution.
What is Zoe Saldaña’s ethnicity?
Saldaña’s parents are clear on record: her father, Aridio Saldaña, was Dominican, and her mother, Asalia Nazario, is Puerto Rican (IMDb (actor biography database)). She was born in Passaic, New Jersey, and after her father’s death the family moved to the Dominican Republic before settling in Queens, New York (Biography.com (editorial biography outlet)).
Who are Zoe Saldaña’s parents?
- Father: Aridio Saldaña, Dominican (IMDb)
- Mother: Asalia Nazario, Puerto Rican (IMDb)
The correct Spanish spelling of her surname includes the tilde: Saldaña. She has described her upbringing as bilingual and bicultural, speaking Spanish at home while attending school in English-speaking environments.
The pattern: Saldaña’s mixed Caribbean heritage is one of the few personal details she addresses openly, making it a rare point of clear public record compared to other biographical dimensions.
What is Zoe Saldaña diagnosed with?
Saldaña has voluntarily disclosed that she has attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In interviews, she has described how it affects her focus and how she has learned to manage it. Importantly, this is a personal disclosure, not a medical diagnosis published by a clinician. Responsible reporting treats her own words as the primary source.
Does Zoe Saldaña have ADHD?
- She has publicly stated she has ADHD in multiple interviews.
- No other medical conditions have been confirmed by Saldaña or by medical documentation.
- Do not extrapolate from her film roles or public appearances.
One disclosure, one condition. Readers seeking health information should rely only on what Saldaña herself has said, not on aggregator speculation.
The implication: Because the ADHD disclosure is a personal statement rather than a clinical record, it sits in a gray zone between verified fact and unverified claim—a pattern that repeats across Saldaña’s health and wealth details.
Is Zoe Saldaña LGBTQ?
There is no public statement or credible report confirming that Saldaña identifies as LGBTQ. She is married to Italian artist Marco Perego (IMDb). They married in 2013 and have three children together (IMDb).
Who is Zoe Saldaña married to?
- Marco Perego, an Italian painter and sculptor.
- Married in 2013 in a private ceremony.
- Three children (two sons, one daughter).
Why this matters: Saldaña’s sexual orientation is private. Speculation based on the characters she plays—such as Neytiri or Gamora—has no basis in her personal life.
Did Bradley Cooper date Zoe Saldaña?
Entertainment outlets reported a romantic link between Saldaña and actor Bradley Cooper from around December 2011 to January 2013 (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia); Biography.com (editorial biography outlet)). Neither party has publicly detailed the relationship, and since both have moved on, the timeline remains the most concrete aspect.
What was the reported Zoe Saldaña and Bradley Cooper timeline?
- December 2011: Reports of a romantic relationship emerge.
- January 2013: Reports indicate the relationship ended.
- Context: Cooper later had a relationship with model Irina Shayk, with whom he shares a daughter; Saldaña married Perego in 2013.
The trade-off: This is the only celebrity relationship in Saldaña’s past that attracted widespread tabloid coverage. The lack of confirmation from either party means the details are soft—but the reported window is consistent across multiple established sources.
What movies and TV shows has Zoe Saldaña appeared in?
Saldaña’s screen career spans more than two dozen films and several TV appearances. She made her on-screen debut in a 1999 episode of Law & Order (Realtor.com (real estate and celebrity news)). Her film debut came the following year in Center Stage (IMDb).
What was Zoe Saldaña’s first movie?
Center Stage (2000), where she played a ballet dancer—drawing on her own dance training.
What role does Zoe Saldaña play in Avatar?
She voices and performs as Neytiri, the Na’vi princess who becomes Jake Sully’s partner. The character debuted in Avatar (2009) and returned in Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) and upcoming sequels.
Is Zoe Saldaña in Star Trek?
Yes. She plays Nyota Uhura in the reboot films: Star Trek (2009), Star Trek Into Darkness (2013), and Star Trek Beyond (2016).
Who does Zoe Saldaña play in Guardians of the Galaxy?
She plays Gamora, the adopted daughter of Thanos, in all three Guardians of the Galaxy films (2014, 2017, 2023) and in Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019).
What this means: Saldaña has appeared in three of the highest-grossing film franchises in history. According to The Guardian (major British newspaper) and Fortune (business magazine), her films had collectively generated over $15.4 billion globally by early 2026—making her the highest-grossing actor of all time by box-office revenue.
Saldaña’s filmography is the most reliably documented part of her public record. The scale of her box-office dominance—$15.4 billion—is a fact that overshadows the uncertainty around her personal finances and health.
What is Zoe Saldaña’s net worth?
Net worth figures for celebrities are estimates, not audited financial statements. Celebrity Net Worth (entertainment aggregator) estimates $80 million; Yahoo Finance (financial news outlet) reported a 2025 estimate of $60 million. The variance reflects different methodologies—not a confirmed figure.
How did Zoe Saldaña build her net worth?
- Her earnings are primarily tied to residuals and backend participation in the Avatar, Star Trek, and Marvel franchises.
- She also earns from voice work and endorsement deals.
- Real estate investments, including a New York home, contribute to her asset portfolio (Realtor.com).
No single net worth figure should be taken as fact. Low-tier aggregators like Snazor have published inflated claims that conflict with major outlet estimates (Snazor (low-authority aggregator)).
The result: The range between $60 million and $80 million is the realistic band, but without official disclosure, any precise number is guesswork.
How old is Zoe Saldaña?
Born June 19, 1978, Saldaña is currently 46 years old (as of June 2025).
When was Zoe Saldaña born?
June 19, 1978, in Passaic, New Jersey (IMDb).
Where did Zoe Saldaña grow up?
After her father died in a car accident when she was nine, her mother moved the family to the Dominican Republic. They later moved to Queens, New York, where Saldaña attended school and began dance training (Biography.com).
What dance training did Zoe Saldaña have?
She studied ballet at the Ballet Hispánico in New York and later trained at the ECOS Espacio de Danza in the Dominican Republic. Her dance background directly led to her first film role in Center Stage.
The pattern: Saldaña’s biography is well-documented up to her breakout role, but her post-fame life remains carefully guarded—a deliberate choice that contrasts with the scale of her public career.
Timeline signal
- 1978 – Born June 19 in Passaic, New Jersey (IMDb)
- 1999 – Acting debut in Law & Order (Realtor.com)
- 2000 – Film debut in Center Stage (IMDb)
- 2009 – Appeared in Star Trek and Avatar (IMDb)
- 2011–2012 – Linked to Bradley Cooper in entertainment reports (Wikipedia)
- 2013 – Married Marco Perego (IMDb)
- 2014 – Appeared in Guardians of the Galaxy (IMDb)
- 2022 – Starred in Avatar: The Way of Water (IMDb)
- 2023 – Appeared in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (IMDb)
- 2025 – Won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Emilia Pérez (Biography.com)
What the timeline shows: A steady career progression with personal life events (marriage, children) deliberately kept off the red carpet.
Clarity check: confirmed vs. unclear
Confirmed facts
- Zoe Saldaña was born June 19, 1978, in Passaic, New Jersey (IMDb)
- Her father was Dominican and her mother is Puerto Rican (IMDb)
- She is married to Marco Perego and has three children (IMDb)
- She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Emilia Pérez in 2025 (Biography.com)
- Her films have grossed over $15.4 billion globally (The Guardian; Fortune; IMDb News)
What’s unclear
- Whether Saldaña identifies as LGBTQ has not been publicly confirmed.
- Exact custody arrangements for Bradley Cooper’s daughter are private.
- Zoe Saldaña’s precise net worth is not officially documented; estimates range from $60 million to $80 million.
- Private details of the Saldaña-Cooper relationship timeline are not confirmed by either party.
- Her ADHD disclosure is a personal statement, not a clinical record—treat as self-reported, not medically verified.
The consequence of the balance: For anyone searching for a single comprehensive source on Saldaña’s identity, career, and the boundaries of public knowledge, the clearest takeaway is that confirmed facts are plentiful around her work and heritage—but thin around health, wealth, and private relationships. The prudent reader will trust original sources (IMDb, Biography.com, The Guardian) over aggregator sites that inflate or invent numbers.
Frequently asked questions
What is Zoe Saldaña’s full name?
Zoe Yadira Saldaña Nazario; after marriage she also uses Saldaña-Perego (Wikipedia).
Does Zoe Saldaña have children?
Yes, three sons with husband Marco Perego.
What languages does Zoe Saldaña speak?
English and Spanish fluently.
Which Zoe Saldaña movies are on Netflix?
Availability rotates; titles such as Center Stage and The Book of Life have appeared in the past. Check your local Netflix catalog.
Has Zoe Saldaña won an Oscar?
Yes, she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Emilia Pérez in 2025 (Biography.com).
What was Zoe Saldaña’s first TV role?
An episode of Law & Order in 1999 (Realtor.com).
How tall is Zoe Saldaña?
5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) per IMDb.
Where does Zoe Saldaña live?
She and her family split time between New York and Los Angeles.
James Mitchell is Editor-in-Chief at Australian News Desk, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.