Zoe Saldana wants to kick-ass and be the next Angelina Jolie

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In the last Zoe Saldana post, some of you took issue with the idea that I wouldn’t write about Zoe because I thought people wouldn’t be interested in her. Just to clarify: I wasn’t claiming to “ignore” Zoe because she’s a woman of a color and I, according to some commenters, just “hate” women of color. I was debating whether to cover a woman that I didn’t consider particularly relevant (or likeable, for that matter), and that I didn’t think people were very interested in. I find Zoe to be at times boring, and at times insufferable, which is merely my opinion. If you disagree and think she’s God’s gift, good for you. Feel free to disagree and comment about her – because I won’t write about people that don’t get comments.

Anyway, Zoe has a feature in the new issue of GQ. She’s promoting Colombiana, that La Femme Nikita-looking movie that looks… not good. Zoe is really trying to become “the next Angelina Jolie” – so much so that the article even name-drops Jolie by calling Zoe “the ass-kickingest female star since Angelina Jolie. Like Jolie, Saldana’s physicality— all fluid angles and long lines—is part of what makes her so much fun to watch; before the bad guys are finished staring, they’re already dead.” Here are some highlights:

Zoe Saldana was out dancing the other night when a fight broke out one table over. Her companions scattered; she stayed put. “I knew exactly what I was going to do,” she says. “Kick this door, grab this, move that guy out of the way. Then I started laughing: Oh, my God, I still have Cataleya in my system.”

Saldana’s action roots run deep. The actress, 33, grew up partly in the Dominican Republic, where she learned to climb mango trees and gut fresh-caught fish. She remembers herself as “a feminine tomboy. I had my plastic swords, my ninja stars—but I still wore lipstick.”

Next year she’ll trade the martial arts for a couple of marital dramas, though don’t expect any doting wives: “It gets pretty boring when all you are is the support system for a male character,” she says. “I want to be in the small percentage of women who don’t settle for conventional roles.”

[From GQ]

There’s some stuff about all of the training she went through for this part in Colombiana, and how she trained with the same guy who worked with Matt Damon on the Bourne films. She’s committed, I’ll give her that, and she does work hard. But I tend to think the Jolie comparisons are too soon, too much and too over-done. It feels like too many actresses are trying to work the Jolie Method instead of carving out their own unique niche in Hollywood.

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Photos courtesy of GQ.

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46 Responses to “Zoe Saldana wants to kick-ass and be the next Angelina Jolie”

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  1. anait says:

    I’m not a Jolie fan, but all these poor girls really don’t understand what is obvious: there is only one Angelina Jolie. Angelina is successfull because she is Angelina. Trying to be the next Angelina only means trying to be a copy. We don’t need a copy, we have the original! So better to try to be a decent Zoe Saldana than a fake Angelina Jolie.

  2. mln76 says:

    Zoe is beautiful to look at but boring as hell(I am a woman of color so I can say that)she seems happy with her fiance and grounded though….Oh and I am sick of people saying that they want to be the next Angelina Jolie…love her or hate her there isn’t going to be another Angelina Jolie.

  3. LIVEALOT says:

    Agree about the jolie comparisons – used and abused. BUT I DO LIKE HER!

    the first photo is great. the black ones not so much. i think the lying on the floor pose, no matter who does it (i.e. mila kunis) looks cheap!

  4. Liz says:

    The title is a sentence type-o

  5. gee says:

    I second what mln76 says. I agree 100%

  6. Lisa says:

    I’m so tired of everyone playing the race card. I’m Latina just like Zoe and I don’t find her appealing or interesting either.

  7. Maritza says:

    It’s not like she compared herself to Angelina Jolie, the comment was made by the magazine so it’s not her fault. She is pretty but nothing special to look at.

  8. MK says:

    In Hollywood, I’m not sure being “boring” is a bad thing, since interesting usually involves adultery, drug use, and saying ignorant stuff in interviews.

    No opinion on her really, except that she is stunning. She and Jolie certainly have that in common. I could see her in Jolie-esque movie roles, but would Jolie be Jolie without her insane personal life? I dunno.

  9. Usedtoitall says:

    Beautiful talented woman!! Something HollyWood is missing!

  10. lucy2 says:

    I think she’s really pretty and is interesting to watch for fashion choices. Other than that…?

  11. sandy#1 says:

    they have to have someone to aspire to, who better than the jolie, just look at her life, she turned it around completely, she’s not perfect but, she is an amazing beautiful lady. but there is only one Angelina Jolie for sure.

  12. silken_floss says:

    Flawless.

  13. MariPily says:

    She’s beautiful, smart and low key. She isn’t cracked out, hooking up with anything that has a twig and berries, or parading around half naked. I think she’s fabulous. But I’m partial because I’m Dominican, too, lol( I spent summers on the island as a kid, eating mangoes and fishing in rivers, too). But seriously, she’s boring because she’s kinda normal, like the rest of us. Except her job pays her millions of bucks! lol

  14. Quest says:

    Pretty -check
    Uninteresting – check
    AJ wannabe – check
    Original – I think not

    Movie looks like a lot of hyped up crap

  15. Dana says:

    The trailers for Columbiana are laughably bad. It reminds me of 80’s era Miami Vice, in both plot and acting skills.

  16. Charlotte says:

    she was great in the losers and of course star trek!

  17. zephyr says:

    She’s in great shape but otherwise is too self-conscious to be alluring.And nothing about her intrigues or is of interest bar growing up in DR, which is a fabulous place.

  18. danielle says:

    I liked her in losers and Star Trek too – hard to say what I thought of her in Avatar. Her voice sounded committed? Anyways, I’m a fan. I’m sure I’ll see her in more movies – especially since my bf loves her, lol!

  19. LOVE ANGELINA says:

    There is only one Angelina Jolie. People need to stop looking for the “next Angelina” because its not gonna happen. I do love Zoe though and wish her all the best.

  20. Hanna says:

    She’s just too much, but still boring. The comparison between her and Jolie is ridiculous. Zoe is a big MEH in my taste, nothing fascinating nor no talent.

  21. TG says:

    I like Zoe! I have liked her in the movies I have seen of her and I do find her very attractive and I like her fashion choices for awards shows. I really want that purple velvet thingy she has on in the first pic. She is kind of boring but that isn’t a bad thing to me it just means she isn’t out famewhoring. Agree with the others we have one Jolie why not everybody just be themselves.

  22. Skinnybetch says:

    Zoe Saldana is too anorexic and boring to be the next big female action star. She can talk about sex and kicking ass in her interviews all she wants, but she will never be Angelina Jolie! She needs to stick to bitchy ballerina roles!

  23. Iggles says:

    I like Zoe! There is just on Angelina Jolie, but she’s a benchmark for many women who as Zoe says, “don’t settle for conventional roles” as supporting the male leads.

    Michelle Rodriguez, while not a leading lady, is another kick ass chick who doesn’t like to play “the girlfriend” in movies. More power to her and to all women who fight against being typecast in such a limiting way!

    It’s fine to play the girlfriend, but there are more to women than that! We need to see more variety on screen!

  24. Amy says:

    I’ve never really understood this board and the fascination with Angelina’s acting (not her personal life). I’ve seen her in a handful of films and while she does okay with what she’s given, it’s pretty much always the same character. Tough girl whose not taking crap from anybody (I realize she has done other less tough girl roles but I’ve never been interested enough to watch those). I don’t think she deserves some sort of acting category unto herself but I realize many people will disagree with me.

  25. anonymous says:

    Zoe Saldana is beautiful. It’s time for Latino’s to take their place and rigtful spot in Hollywood. Of course she can be the next Angelina Jolie. Although they are four young stars veying for the title. Angelina says she will be quitting acting,her children seem to be her priority. The Angelina Personna is like auditioning for a role that’s all it is and so far, Zoe Saldana is ahead of the pack.

  26. DavidBowie says:

    I couldn’t even finish reading your article b/c I was THAT bored w/ the subject. Yawn.

  27. lu says:

    I agree on the there is only one Jolie, celebs who want to look like her or imitate her just fail miserably.

  28. Catherine says:

    She bores me.

  29. dr.bombay says:

    I know that I’ve seen her in several movies…but I can’t think of one of them…? Not a good sign.

  30. Elizabeth says:

    “I want to be in the small percentage of women who don’t settle for conventional roles.”

    You’ve got to earn it, girlfriend. And she’s not there yet, so talking about it just sounds pretentious. She may yet be that kind of actress in the future but saying that now without having done the work for it just sounds arrogant.

  31. TG says:

    @Skinnybetch – Angelina has zero muscle tone so I never bought her as an a** kicking heroine either. I think of her more as the sexy nononsense chick in movies.

    And Kaiser I don’t think of you a racist. I like this site because both the writers and commentors do not spew crazy hatrid at anybody. Yes we do get bitch about some people (Alba anyone) but that is because of the dumb things that come out of her mouth. I have not seen another celeb site quite like this one.

  32. LeeLoo says:

    I do like her but I wouldn’t group her with Angelina Jolie yet. However, I think she means that Angelina Jolie may be an inspiration for her.
    @Kaiser My only beef in not writing about Zoe is that you would be willing to write about that nasty chick from Boardwalk Empire over someone who at least a little more liked, recognizable and can put coherent sentences together. We have enough crazy on this site as is.

  33. curleque says:

    I wish this chick would just go away. I don’t know why producers are insistent on pushing her on everyone and trying to make her a sex symbol. She isn’t.

  34. aenflex says:

    she’s boring, and seems needy. and for what it’s worth, i’ve never encountered a racist, classist and any other -ist post in this site.

  35. Kelly says:

    Zoe Saldana is yuck, definitely no Angelina Jolie!

  36. Jessica says:

    In the little part of the article it doesn’t say that Zoe is actively trying to be like Angelina Jolie. Whoever wrote the article was the one who said it. I find that if there is ever a women who is doing action movies she’s automatically named being the next Jolie, even if the actress herself never said it….just saying….

  37. Karen says:

    I do not usually comment. However, you did ask for it: I’ve loved Zoe Saldana since I saw her in the underrated Center Stage. I find her gorgeous and intelligent-seeming [I know that’s not the same thing as intelligent, but…since I’ll never meet her, what do I truly care?].
    And I’ve watched her career with interest and wish her very well.
    [though to be honest, I do not truly see her as Jolie-esque]

  38. CHRISTIAN_GIRL says:

    All these female actresses should just do what they do best. Jolie does HER, not anyone else. That what separates her, so she is not compared to anyone else.

    Got to admit they are trying so hard to come after Jolie’s title (no better word), but she is STILL on the scene. Did she really set the benchmark? As a fan, I think so, but it seems everyone else does too.

    And she can do the baby thing and not lose a step. See, that is what the Hollywood honchos bank on. Test her and she delivers. That swagger is like a male rock star and ONLY Jolie has IT. Larger than life. Keeps Brad so far up her butt too, He CAN”T find his way out. Funny thing is he does not want to and is not ashamed. Love it. What a man Jolie has in Brad. I know, I’ve heard the ‘he’s weak” crap, but I see it as the opposite. His strength is he does not care and is going nowhere. Takes that talk as a badge of honor. At the end of the day he goes home to her and their kids, in turn they adore him. Jolie at his beck and call. Too much. She propped up her man for all to see. And I am seeing.

  39. Addie says:

    Angie has lead a facinating life, doing a lot of changing and growing, all in the pubic eye.

    Other young hollywood actreses need to realise that imitating Angie will not put them on her level of superstardom.

    Angie does Angie, they need to do them.

  40. sauvage says:

    I have to admit that I kind of like the trailer. Yes, it looks interchangeable as hell, but hey, it’s a young, slender woman kicking the big bad guys’ asses. And, call me superficial or superficially feminist – I like that in a movie. It’s a David versus Goliath-thing. I like the “Resident Evil”-series for the same reason. So, if a comparison needs to be made, to me she would be the next Mila Jovovic.

  41. LittleDeadGrrl says:

    I loved her in Star Trek and only liked her in Losers but I think she’s beautiful and the fact I don’t know anything about her is what I like. I haven’t read too many interviews with her to know how smart she really is but I haven’t seen her flash her vag all over L.A so she’s alrighty in my books. I have a soft spot for kick ass movies with girls in them so I might so this though maybe not in theather

  42. Eve says:

    @ TG:

    And Kaiser I don’t think of you a racist. I like this site because both the writers and commentors do not spew crazy hatrid at anybody. Yes we do get bitch about some people (Alba anyone) but that is because of the dumb things that come out of her mouth. I have not seen another celeb site quite like this one.

    I agree with that. So far, I haven’t been upset with any of the posts here on Celebitchy. Granted, I don’t read all of them…but most of the time I find them both entertaining and funny.

    I do love some of the commenters though.

  43. ToastedSkin says:

    I like her a lot.

  44. Jennifer says:

    saldana has a much different vibe than angelina jolie. to me saldana is more mysterious, serious, and more guarded and withholding than jolie. jolie when she was younger was very open, cheerful and eager in interviews. jolie was the interesting, hollywood beauty who felt like an outsider even though she’s raised in the industry -whereas saldana’s a black latina from new york and the dominican republic …….two very different places to come from and if you’re ambitious and female, different mindsets one needs to develop to succeed. i admire them both for succedding. jolie could have been a regular , status quo beauty from hollywood and made it only on fitting in and her looks. but instead she got tats and followed her heart. (i’m sure she was discouraged as it is considered to “ruin/cheapen” female beauty – at least back when she started getting them…) she felt different but accepted it and used it to her advantage. saldana’s different but it seems more because of where she comes from and being black latina. they need to navigate in different ways to succeed. either background can make an ambitious girl become “tough”, for different reasons, respectively. i think saldana’s unique, but quiet, determined. not wild. but jolie was a wild child with a sweet seeming heart. i buy both lady’s toughness…i LOVED saldana in “avatar”…that type role comes along rarely for any actress, especially an actress of color, i was so happy for her.

  45. Jennifer says:

    @Jessica , exactly….like Sigorney Weaver and Linda Hamilton used to be the prototype “action chicks”, but now it’s Angelina Jolie. The women who pull it off usually won’t say they want to BE the next so and so , its’ other people who say that. They may say they admire them, but not that they are trying to be so and so.

  46. Ms. Candy says:

    Zoe has plenty of potential- There is room for everyone as long as the work is put in. She is growing and will get better in time.

    As Angelina Jolie- Not a huge fan of hers because her movies always the same format with little change. I will give her credit she put the work in and she stays true to herself.