Frederick M. Brown/Getty ImagesZoe Saldana stars in three blockbuster movie franchises—Avatar, Guardians of the Galaxy and Star Trek—but it's the pregnant actress' role as a mother that means the most. With follow-up films slated for each project, Saldana says she'll take as much time off as necessary after she gives birth to twin boys.
"I know that we will work everything out. I have to say, I'm very lucky. The great thing is that all the producers and creators involved in the projects that I've done—Avatar, Star Trek and Guardians—they're very good people. So, they've been very understanding, especially with what's happening in my personal life. I've gotten nothing but support. To know that we are getting to that place where women can have that support from male driven workforces is—I have to say, it's very inspiring," she explains.
And, as she points out, "They don't have a choice! I'm not going to rip my child off my tit to go work. And if I do that, then maybe you shouldn't hire me because I am willing to sell anything," she says, laughing.
In all seriousness, the 36-year-old actress tells Entertainment Weekly, "It's nature! Like, you just cannot do it. What kind of mother would I be? There's no choice. It's like, 'What, you want me to leave my newborn so that I can work 16 hours on your set? He's only a month old, are you out of your mind?'"
"And the good thing is that half of the people you work with are all parents, and they get it," Saldana adds. "They probably have strong wives at home that are probably going to look at them going, 'Are you out of your mind?!' See, it's having strong women around you! Once we all come together, it's perfect."
Though she's best known for her work in big budget films like Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Saldana has also appeared in subtler movies, including Out of the Furnace and The Words.
As far as her varied roles go, Saldana explains, "I choose real women, in my mind. I feel like that's different way of looking at it. In order for me to choose strong roles for women, that means that I'm noticing weakness—and it's not the weakness that I'm noticing. It's an inaccurate interpretation, [a] portrayal of female characters in stories that I'm naturally against. I have, like, an allergic reaction to it."
"The moment I read a story and I go, 'Oh, OK, well, she's serviceable. There's nothing special that she's contributing to the story besides just being there to make the man comfortable, soothe him, fight for him, die for him—and he clearly doesn't give a f--k about her, because he's trying to find his own self.' You kind of go, 'Eh, no I don't want to promote that anymore," she says. "I want to be a part of stories where women are important. It doesn't have to be bigger roles; it doesn't have to be action-driven."
Although she's looking forward to motherhood, she also promises Entertainment Weekly she'll be back to butt-kicking on the big screen. "I'm a very active, athletic person, and that is something I purposely go after because I enjoy it," says Saldana, who is married to artist Marco Perego. "And I also know that there's a strong message for young females: Don't just think of yourself as a delicate petal. You can jump, you can climb, you can punch, you can throw balls. Just think of yourself as all these other things as well."