Zoe Saldaña first played Neytiri in Avatar in her twenties. Now 47, she returns for the third film in James Cameron’s epic series, Avatar: Fire and Ash, releasing December 19.
“This chapter of Avatar is about how a family can be resilient and learn to smile and love again after a great loss,” Saldaña shared with Vogue’s deputy editor Taylor Antrim and global director of social Sam Sussman on this Thursday’s episode of The Run-Through.
It has been an exhilarating year for Saldaña. In March, she won an Oscar for her role in Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Pérez; she’s currently filming Season 3 of Lioness; she graces the December 2025 cover of Vogue Mexico and Latin America; and she recently met Pope Leo while in Italy with her three sons. “They were so hyper,” Saldaña said of her boys. “They’re typical 10- and eight-year-olds who can’t focus… but the moment we stood in front of him, they were beaming.”
Saldaña holds the unique distinction of being the first actor to star in four films that each grossed over $2 billion worldwide, in addition to appearing in blockbuster franchises like Star Trek and Pirates of the Caribbean. Yet now more than ever, she says her top priority is staying grounded in her personal life. Hear her discuss this—and much more—in the full conversation above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the podcast episode featuring Zoe Saldaña designed to sound like questions from real listeners
General Beginner Questions
Q What podcast is this episode from
A This episode is from the podcast On with Kara Swisher
Q Who is being interviewed
A The guest is actress Zoe Saldaña known for her roles in Avatar Guardians of the Galaxy and Star Trek
Q What are the main topics they discuss
A They primarily talk about her work on the Avatar sequels her TV series Special Ops Lioness and a personal story about her sons meeting Pope Francis
Q Do I need to be a superfan of Zoe Saldaña to enjoy this
A Not at all Its a wideranging conversation about blockbuster filmmaking worklife balance and unique personal experiences that is interesting for general listeners
Questions About the Specific Topics
Q What does Zoe say about filming the Avatar sequels
A She discusses the long immersive processoften shooting for years with performancecapture technologyand her deep commitment to James Camerons vision for the franchise
Q What is Special Ops Lioness about and what was her role
A Lioness is a Paramount series about a CIA program that embeds female operatives in the lives of terrorism targets Zoe both starred in it and served as an executive producer
Q Wait her sons met the Pope How did that happen
A Yes She shares a charming story about how her husband artist Marco Perego had an audience with the Pope for his work Their young sons were there and had a spontaneous sweet interaction with him
Q Does she talk about the challenges of being in so many major scifi franchises
A Yes She touches on the physical demands the longterm commitments and the unique experience of being part of cultural phenomena while also maintaining a private family life
Advanced Deeper Discussion Questions
Q What insights does she offer about working with performancecapture technology
A She emphasizes that its true acting requiring intense physicality and emotional expression without traditional sets or costumes and praises it