Star Trek's Zoë Saldana and Chris Pine
Monday, May 25, 2009
HER CAREER MAY BE ABOUT TO BLAST INTO THE STRATOSPHERE, BUT TRUST US ON THIS: STAR TREK'S SEXIEST NEW CREW MEMBER IS TOTALLY DOWN TO EARTH. WE GOT HER TO CHAT ABOUT JOHNNY DEPP, TURNING THE BIG 3-0, AND HER BEST STYLE SECRETS. (EVER CONSIDER STEALING YOUR GUY'S UNDERWEAR?)
There are two types of women in this world: the type who played with dolls when they were little and the type who didn't. Then there's Zoë 
Saldana. "Growing up, my dolls were doctors and on secret missions," the actress says with a laugh. "I had Barbie goes Rambo."
Make that Zoë Goes Trekkie. For the big-screen reboot of Star Trek, out this month, she takes on the role of the intergalactically gorgeous Uhura, a character so beloved it's been immortalized as a Mattel action figure. And another doll may soon be hitting the shelves, this one based on her character as an ass-whooping alien in the James Cameron thriller Avatar (due out in December). "It's weird," the 30-year-old says of her mini-me. "But it's also pretty awesome."
As is Zoë. For this afternoon's interview, Zoë arrives at Gordon "Hell's Kitchen" Ramsay's eponymous West Hollywood restaurant looking decidedly more Manhattan than Malibu, wearing a long cardigan and snug skinny jeans tucked into a sexy black stiletto boots. "I don't like things like little sandals that look fragile," she says. "I like to look strong and commanding."
STRADDLING TWO WORLDS
Maybe that's why she was game to take on outer space aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise with a mostly male crew. "I'm more of a guy's girl. I like having a beer in a bar, and I don't bicker or sit down and do my nails," she says. "But I have two sisters and a mother, and we're Latin, so we gossip."
Zoë spent most of her early childhood in Queens, New York, but her mother sent her to live with relatives in the Dominican Republic when she was 10, following the death of her father. "My mom was scared of losing us to the streets," she says. "[But moving] made me stronger, because it takes a lot of courage to start over, especially when you're a kid." In the Caribbean, she attended private school, studied ballet, and came to appreciate the advantages of island life. "It was beautiful," Zoë says. "You could grab your surfboard and run to the beach in 15 minutes."
At age 17, Zoë moved back to the States and began studying acting in New York (a place she refers to as "my little diamond"). She landed her first big role, as a ballerina, in 2000 movie Center Stage, and just three years later found herself on the big screen alongside Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. "He is the shyest person I've ever met," she says of the actor. "The moment the camera is [turned] on, these characters that are within him come out and take control. Then when the director yells, 'Cut!' he goes back to being quiet. Very Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde."
Next came Guess Who, opposite Ashton Kutcher, and Steven Spielberg's The Terminal. Coincidentally, Zoë's character on that film was a Trek fan, and Spielberg taught her the Vulcan salute. "Trekkies are everywhere!" she says.
BALANCING ACT
With her career going full blast, it may be hard to believe she has much time for exercise, but Zoë has found a way to fit it in, with a workout schedule that includes pilates three times a week ("It's the closest thing to dance," she says). But that's not to say she loves every second of it. "I get bored really easily. If I didn't have a trainer to push me, I'd go walk for about 15 minutes," she says, groaning. "But I love feeling in tune with my body and eating right." Her one rule: no deprivation or crash diets. "Sometimes I pig out on pasta, but that's OK," she says, staring lovingly at the lobster ravioli on her plate. "The next day, I just eat healthy."
That practical attitude extends to aging too. Zoë embraced the big 3-0 by throwing herself a massive dinner party at her home, which she shares with her longtime boyfriend, actor Keith Britton, and their loveable pit bull-pointer mutt, Calvin-full name Calvin Allen Britton ("just so beautiful, but trust me, he has no class," she says). Ask Zoë about stepping into her third decade and she says, "I'm very accepting with my age. It's like notches on your belt: experience, wisdom, and a different kind of beauty. There comes a day when you've become comfortable in your skin. But God as my witness, I am going to try to do everything I can to keep this ass together for as long as I possibly can- without going against nature."
ON THE MOVE
With her lifestyle, that shouldn't be too hard. This is a woman who relishes a fast pace. "I have a hyper personality," Zoë says. "I don't draw myself a bath with candles- I don't get it. [I feel the same way about] camping: You pack for five frickin' hours to go to the woods and sit by a fire? We could do that in my backyard!" Still, she admits, "I'm learning the power of going away for the weekend and keeping myself company. Sometimes, I'll drive to the airport, and four hours later I'm in Mexico. [I relax] for two days, then call everybody to say, 'Yo, this is amazing! Please come!"
Her ideal Sunday afternoon: hitting a movie theater for three films in a row. Friday night might be dinner with friends and a few bottles of wine. "I wouldn't want to change anything in my life," she says. "Am I happy? Happiness is nothing but temporary moments here and there- and I love those. But I would be bored out of my mind if I were happy all the time."
CLOTHES ENCOUNTERS
A fixture at fashion shows, Zoë has a style that reflects her bold sensibility.
Mix classic with daring "I have an eclectic palette, because I love longevity, in things and in people. Diane von Furstenberg and Ralph Lauren have the longevity. I'm also a fan of Zac Posen and DSquared². They're innovative and risk-taking."
Dress like an icon "I really like theme dressing. For example, a secretary in the 1980's, or I might dress like Billie Holiday with a flower [in my hair]. To me, it's always about an essence."
Buck the trends "Whatever everybody's forcing on you, do the exact opposite. Two summers ago, everybody was wearing those little dresses It was like, if I hear that word ethereal again, I'll shoot myself! Nobody wants to look powerful? What about commanding?
Borrow from a beau "I love wearing men's clothing and underwear. I just feel so sexy in jeans and a man's shirt. Plus, I love black, red. I love solid colors that say 'I'm here; I'm strong.'"
Buy secondhand "My grandmother always knew the little 'in' spots in New York to buy used things. We learned to appreciate a good pair of shoes, even if somebody else had already worn them. I have a pair of Gucci boots that are secondhand."
ZOË'S FAVORITE FLICK PICKS
"I love movies more than anything," Zoë says. A few of her faves:
Sci-fi film "I'm a Star Wars fan, but I love the whole Alien legacy. My favorite was the second one, because of Ripley [Sigourney Weaver]. She was such a feisty creature- strong and still very motherly."
Romantic comedy "I would have to say Nuovo Cinema Paradiso. There's this romance between a boy and a girl and a friendship between a man\ and an old man. It's all just so beautiful- you cry and laugh. You have to watch it, trust me."
Buddy movie "I love St. Elmo's Fire. [The characters] have this friendship, and you can relate to all of them- from Emilio Estevez to Ally Sheedy. In every scene, you are one or the other."
Make-you-scream horror movie "A Nightmare on Elm Street-WTF! That scene where Johnny Depp is listening to music and gets sucked down [into the bed]- and all that blood?! To this day, I can't watch that movie alone."
Post-break-up with a pint of ice cream movie "I love vanguard films [like] The Hunger, with Catherine Deneuve, David Bowie, and Susan Sarandon. It's a vampire love story: Catherine Deneuve has to find a new lover because David Bowie [has to be] put to rest. I love the androgyny and the fact that she has been with this man for centuries but now is looking for a companion, [not] a gender. It's gorgeous, and the music is just amazing."
Watch over and over again movie "The Goonies was everything I wanted to do at [a young] age. I was like, I hope I discover a cave with a pirate ship inside full of diamonds! So great!"
What do you think women should know about guys? Women think that men don't talk about their feelings with guys. We do talk to friends about relationships, but it's succinct- 10 minutes, then we move on.
| Next > |
|---|
0 Comments