20th Century Studios
There’s no denying that Zoe Saldaña is one of the most successful actresses of our time. With roles in blockbuster franchises like “Star Trek,” Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy,” and James Cameron’s “Avatar,” she has not only proven her acting prowess but also her ability to draw audiences to the box office. Despite her remarkable career, Saldaña has expressed frustration over her sci-fi performances, particularly in “Avatar.”
Recently, Saldaña’s work in the critically acclaimed “Emilia Pérez,” available on Netflix since November, has been gaining attention during the awards season. However, her reflections on her overlooked performance in 2009’s “Avatar” and its 2022 sequel, “Avatar: The Way of Water,” have also come to light. According to her, the industry still adheres to old norms, failing to acknowledge motion capture performances on par with traditional on-camera performances. Here are her thoughts on the matter:
“Change is difficult to initiate when old habits persist, especially in longstanding establishments. I get that, so I don’t harbor bitterness. However, it’s quite demoralizing when you pour your heart and soul into a project and end up being ignored, minimized, and completely disregarded.”
“Avatar,” which broke records by becoming the highest-grossing movie of all time twice, grossing over $2.9 billion to date, only fell behind “Avengers: Endgame” at $2.79 billion. Despite its success and numerous Oscar nominations, primarily in technical categories, the actors were overlooked.
Avatar’s Success Goes Beyond CGI, and Zoe Saldaña Validates This
20th Century Studios
Motion capture in the industry has been a topic of debate for the past few decades. Andy Serkis revolutionized the field with his portrayal of Gollum in “The Lord of the Rings” and later as Caesar in the “Planet of the Apes” films. Despite their impact, neither performance received Oscar nominations, although both films received awards for visual effects.
Indeed, skilled technicians are needed to bring these performances to life, but there’s a vast difference between a soulless CGI creation and the performances offered by Saldaña and her peers in films like “Avatar.” “I’m aware of the distinction between what we did and that,” Saldaña stated in the interview.
Personally, I believe that Saldaña and other actors have been under-recognized for such performances. She also didn’t receive the acknowledgment she deserved for her role as Gamora in the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films. However, the industry is evolving. Angela Bassett received a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her role in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” showing that comic book films are not always overlooked. Saldaña appears to have reconciled with the lack of critical recognition for her performance as Neytiri:
“You have to question yourself at some point: What’s the purpose of what I do? Is it to seek approval from others? Or is it because I don’t want to do anything else?”
Who knows, maybe the release of “Avatar: Fire and Ash” next year will shift attitudes. For now, Saldaña can take solace in the fact that she has starred in three of the highest-grossing films of all time, as well as several others in the top 20.
Credit: www.slashfilm.com
