'Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl' may have launched Zoe Saldana into the spotlight, but it was an uphill voyage filled with valuable lessons during the early stages of her career.
- Oct 13, 2024
AceShowbiz - Zoe Saldana recently opened up about the challenging early days of her career - a journey that began with a particularly difficult experience on the set of the first "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie. During a Screen Talks conversation at the 2024 BFI London Film Festival, Saldana shared insights about her turbulent initiation into the world of big-budget cinema.
Following her roles in 2000's "Center Stage" and 2002's "Crossroads" and "Drumline," Saldana secured a part in 2003's "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl." She played Anamaria, a pirate who confronts Jack Sparrow for stealing her ship. Despite the film's overwhelming success, Saldana's experience on set was far from smooth sailing.
Reflecting on the production, she revealed, "It was a big Disney studio machine, big cast, people doing accents. I barely had my SAG card. I was learning as I was going. I hung out with the camera department, asking the DP: 'What are you doing?' That became my school. And I learned the kind of people I wanted to work with." Her words vividly convey the steep learning curve she faced on such a major set.
Saldana didn't shy away from addressing the negative aspects of her experience. She said, "I knew with that experience the kind of people that I wanted to work with. The crew and the cast, they're 99% of the time super marvelous. But if the studio and the producers and the director, they're not leading with kindness and awareness and consideration, then that big of a production can become a really bad experience and you may tip overboard. And I kind of did."
However, not long after this rocky introduction to blockbuster filmmaking, Saldana worked with the legendary director Steven Spielberg. "I worked with Steven Spielberg eight months later, and he restored my faith that big can also be great," she remarked. This positive experience was a turning point, reinforcing her dedication and reigniting her passion for acting.
Saldana's candid reflections serve as a poignant reminder that even the brightest stars have faced stormy waters at the onset of their careers. For young aspiring actors, her journey underscores the importance of perseverance, learning, and finding the right mentors in the industry. Despite the early hardships, Saldana's success today stands as a beacon of hope and resilience for young talents aiming to make their mark in Hollywood.