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She made her first movie in 2000, smacked Johnny Depp in the face in "Pirates of the Caribbean" and looked great in a uniform in "Terminal." Now, Zoë Saldaña, at the ripe old age of 26, has her first real star turn, with Ashton Kutcher and Bernie Mac, in Kevin Rodney Sullivan's "Guess Who" — a contemporary take on 1967's groundbreaking interracial-romance film, "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner."
On top of all that, she has three other films on the way this year (two of which are based in the Dominican Republic, where her family is from), and is taking the reins for the first time as a producer. MTV News' Carolyn Davis talked with Saldaña about hard work, what's sexy, and the enduring appeal of playing dress-up.
MTV: Did you see "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" before filming "Guess Who"?
Zoë Saldaña: Yes, years ago. It's one of my favorite films. But none of us felt that we were doing a remake. If anything, we felt we were inspired by the film to tell the story again in a different way.
MTV: Do you prefer comedy to drama?
Saldaña: I prefer drama. It's my forté. I like comedy, but I just don't think I'm cut out for it. I can cry in a second. I don't think I can make people laugh as fast.
MTV: Are there particular actors or actresses who have influenced you?
Saldaña: I tend to love character actors: John C. Reilley, Cate Blanchett — and Charlize Theron, a woman I respect so much because her beauty is so overpowering, but it's never overshadowed her potential as an actor. But I don't want to have anybody's career but my own.
MTV: What's the most fun thing about being in movies?
Saldaña: Everything. I live in the world of make-believe for three months. Let's say I'm in my pirate costume, and I need to slap Jack Sparrow. That character Johnny Depp created [in "Pirates of the Caribbean"] was so fascinating, and helped me so much as Annamaria, so that slap was from Annamaria to Jack Sparrow, not from me to Johnny. It's amazing what a costume can do. You put on a tutu, and you're walking with such delicacy and fragility, and then you put on a pirate costume, and you're a pirate.
MTV: What new films do you have coming up?
Saldaña: There's a movie I shot in the Dominican Republic, "La Maldición del Padre Cardona." Then there's "Constellation," which I shot right before "Guess Who." That's with Billy Dee Williams. I did a film called "Haven" with Orlando Bloom that's still in negotiations for distribution. And this summer I'm co-producing my [currently untitled] first film. It's going to be shot in the Dominican Republic. All my family is there.
MTV: With roots there, do you identify as a black Latina?
Saldaña: Why the hell do we have to sub-categorize? I know who I am. I'm Zoë. I'm done.
MTV: Still, have you found that you have to go outside of the studio system to find good roles?
Saldaña: It's the same thing as if you want to excel in school: you have to study. You can't just go tell the teacher, "I want an A." You have to fight for roles that you want — and then sometimes they come easily. Steven Spielberg asked to meet me for "Terminal" because he had been watching me. It was amazing to know that I was right about him all along, that he does his homework. He really is a movie fanatic. He will never stop being an audience member, because he loves watching films.
MTV: What was Ashton like? Were you scared he would punk you?
Saldaña: Those doubts did cross my mind, and I'm pretty sure I wasn't the only one, the first week of shooting. But he is so committed. He was doing his job.
MTV: The film deals with racially charged issues and situations. Was it awkward shooting certain scenes where that was front-and-center?
Saldaña: I thought it would be. But we made sure in our rehearsals that we got to know each other and that we knew where we were coming from. We all had the same objective, which was just to get this message across.
MTV: What was it like kissing Ashton?
Saldaña: I never kissed him: My character kissed his character. They were in love. Kevin [the director] was like, "Theresa, Simon, give me amazing kisses! We need to nominate the sh-- out of this kiss for the MTV Awards!"
MTV: What music do you listen to these days?
Saldaña: Right now I'm listening to a lot of Spanish music. Robi Draco Rosa, Jorge Drexler [Oscar-winner for "The Motorcycle Diaries"] and Sylvio Rodriguez, a Cuban singer. And I always have blues on my playlist. I love Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, Billie Holiday.
MTV: Who do you look forward to working with?
Saldaña: I've been dying to work with Mira Nair [director of "Mississippi Masala," "Monsoon Wedding," etc.]. I love the way she tells stories. Also, Alfonso Cuarón, the director of "Y Tu Mama También," and Pedro Almodóvar, who is everyone's favorite to work with.
MTV: Finally: do you know what you're wearing to the "Guess Who" premiere?
Saldaña: Yes, I'm wearing a Narciso Rodriguez dress, jewelry by Erica Courtney and shoes by Chanel. I don't like taking off my jeans. But I always listen to my mom, because she always tells me to dress more womanish. She says, "Damn, child! You know how hard I worked to create you. That body? You didn't just come up with it. I did, so flaunt it." If you feel sexy, it's going to come out of your pores. Sexuality comes from within, not from your [breasts] and your booty.
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Photo: Columbia Pictures
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