This is Zoe Saldana on the August issue of GQ UK. It’s an interesting cover shot, and I get the feeling that Zoe has had a lot of dance and modeling experience, and that’s why she’s contorted herself into this position. But you can barely see her beautiful face, the photo is so strange. And I do think she’s beautiful, I really do. I just get tired of her trying to impress me and everyone else with how hardcore and intelligent she is. She reminds me a little of Gwyneth that way. Anyway, here are some excerpts from the GQ profile:
What she loves in a man: “I love men’s hands not just nice, manicured hands. I feel as though hands say a lot about you and your history. There’s something very abrasively fragile about a man’s hands.”
What she dislikes in people: “The only thing I can’t tolerate in a human being, especially in a man, is ignorance. Somebody who talks in labels, or talks just to hear themselves speak. To me, judgment day is when you open your mouth and say something that lets me know what kind of personality you have. I mean, I’m not saying I love a man who cries, but I think that can be very sexy.”
On playing Neytiri: “I didn’t know what the hell I was doing. I just instinctively played her like an animal. I don’t mean like a savage – I just knew that she operates on natural, organic feelings. She’s not calculated or manipulative. There’s an innocence to her, a purity.”
On Naytiri’s fans: “It’s because of how tough she was, and how she was willing to stand by her man. In reality, no matter how fragile a woman can be on the exterior, I think it’s good to have some toughness. That way you get to share the load with the man, so they can be a little vulnerable now and then.”
[From GQ UK, via Music Rooms & Entertainment Rundown]
I guess she’s very happy in her relationship, and that’s why she talks like that about men? She’s not on the market for a man, and she hasn’t been for ten years, so of course she’s going to be all “All of those dudes at the club suck.” And she’s right – they do suck. But if she was single, she might not be saying it in an interview, that’s all I’m saying. But yes, Zoe just got engaged to Keith Britton after dating for 10 years (since she was 23 years old!). Us Weekly’s source claims that they’re “in no rush to walk down the aisle” and that “She hasn’t stopped working to plan anything.” Hm.
Zoe is also the new face/crotch of Calvin Klein. I think she’s going to be doing campaigns for the perfume and for underwear. Zoe released a statement when her first ad came out yesterday: “Calvin Klein has always put forth such beautifully executed campaigns. It’s very exciting for me to be associated with such an iconic, globally recognized brand like Calvin Klein Underwear.” It’s a nice image. But they cut off part of her face!
And here’s one other image from GQ:
she annoys me
To most famous people, “ignorance” = “not agreeing with ME.”
See Michael Jackson, for instance.
She’s cute. A little ignorant about men maybe…
since when is she a big deal in hollywood? i mean yeah, she was in avatar, but you couldnt even see her real appearance… i still remember her in the s*** of a movie : crossroads/ not a girl with britney spears
I don’t understand the Michael Jackson reference, but I do agree that when it is said, most people are saying that those that don’t agree with me are ignorant.
Kaiser, she used to be a ballet dancer. She actually trained in New York. That’s where she got involved with acting for Center Stage.
I love her personal style. Contrary to the prior post’s suggestion that she is like Jada Pinkett, I look at her and see the second coming of Thandie Newton. LOVED her (and Jeffrey Dean Morgan, swoon) in The Losers – which was a great flick that I highly recommend.
I don’t know what it is, but something about this girl really annoys me.
Just another average Jane pretending to be famous and smart.
I would say I don’t understand the Zoe hate. But honestly, I think a lot of people don’t like her because she’s pretty, thin, and dark skinned. She’s a leading lady that most people aren’t used to seeing and I think that grates more than her sound bytes in interviews. Instead of identifying with her as a kickass leading lady, she’s viewed as a threat and labeled arrogant.
I think she’s a good actress. I loved her in Center Stage, Drumline, Star Trek, and Avatar. (Never saw Crossroads and don’t intend too, lol).
@Iggles – Its not because shes dark skinned or threatening. I recognize shes a good actress, beautiful, and dominican/black (right?) Im latin, Hollywood needs some color. Thats great. But it annoys me how shes trying too hard to sound smart, trying to prove shes no bimbo, and then poses in a skanky outfit for GQ (a mens mag) and goes on about men being stupid or whatever. She can actually act, save the skanky photoshoots for jessica alba and cover up
I have no problem with her. I’m pleased for her success although I admit the only film of hers that I’ve seen was Centre Stage and it was so long ago I don’t even remember who was in it. Wait…was she the tough girl who challenged the star to dance at the hip hop club? Ah, my brain works after all.
The reason for my comment is to say I’m pleased that she has replaced Eva Mendes as the body/crotch (snort!) of Calvin Klein underoos. I used to love Eva but she annoys the hell out of me. Go Zoe!!
I’m with you Iggles. I guess I don’t understand the notion that she tries to act like she’s smart. She’s clearly an intelligent woman who is unafraid to give her opinion. What should she aspire to be like Jessica Simpson and just spit out inanities and blow kisses on the red carpet? I see nothing skanky in posing in a swimsuit especially for someone like her who is always beautifully and appropriately dressed.
I think Zoe is so beautiful. I had no idea she was in her 30s!
However, that interview did make me roll my eyes a couple times. Her self praise for Avatar especially annoyed me. I mean, let’s get real here. She basically did a voice over part for a warrior smurf. Big whoop. The acting in Avatar was almost as bad as the script itself! I wouldn’t go bragging about how deeply I played that one if I were her.
I still like her though. She doesn’t look like every other pretty girl in Hollywood. For that alone, I’ll give her a pass on this article.
I’m not even sure what she was trying to say there. I think she meant she doesn’t like stereotyping and cliques. That’s different from ignorance.
Igges: get a life.
“I think a lot of people don’t like her because she’s pretty, thin, and dark skinned.”
Oh, yeah! We’re all racist here. Maybe, just maybe, we’d like more from our actresses playing action heroines than pouting eye-candy waving guns with skeletal arms whilst stripping for the lads’ mags. Go feminism!!
Oi – It’s Iggles.
And don’t tell me that many folks would be more comfortable with her if she fit the Hollywood stereotype of sassy black sidekick instead of beautiful leading lady. One is competition for male attention, while the other lives soles to make other people feel better about themselves.
Wasn’t she in the first Pirates of the Carribean?? The female pirate Sparrow stole the boat from?
@ pooky:
Oh, yeah! We’re all racist here. Maybe, just maybe, we’d like more from our actresses playing action heroines than pouting eye-candy waving guns with skeletal arms whilst stripping for the lads’ mags. Go feminism!!
Thanks for the perfect example of how discussions of race are derailed. We can’t examine how skin color may factor into how people are perceived without someone protesting ‘You’re calling me racist?!’.
Usually when someone does not live up to a stereotype they are noted as “exceptional” (with wonder) or make people uncomfortable (sometimes both). It’s easy for people to act the way you expect them to. So a very masculine gay male is derided as “straight acting”. And woman firefighter is seen as a “shemale” to some for not conforming to gender norms. Are we really to believe this doesn’t happen with people who do not conform to racial stereotypes???? Really??
She was referring to alot of ignorance coming from hollywood that she’s gently touched on beofre, regarding racism.
and if you saw soem of the making of, avatar wasn’t a voice over, A**HOLE. She had her whole body and face expressions captures with motion-capture crap. like that guy that played Gollem. It isn’t easy. It’s probably harder than just being able to act normally. I’m just saying give a young girl a break–she’s trying, she’s not Taylor Mom-brat-izon, she’s not a sickly sweet Mily tryign too hard, I mean come on. Let a girl be a girl.
@Demos “To most famous people, “ignorance” = “not agreeing with ME.””
The same can be said for most non-famous people too, especially people in the comment section, The latest Mel Gibson threads proved that.
I really have to wonder if gossip blog commenters are any smarter than the celebrities they like to talk about. Complain when celebs sound stupid, and long for somebody smarter, that smarter person comes along, and people still complain that they’re arrogant or a poser.
And I wonder if Iggles is right about the skin color thing. I know a lot of you psuedo post-racial types like to think it doesn’t matter, but I’ve read less vitriol in (then BLONDE) Katherine Hiegl posts.
@ Iggles
People don’t like her ’cause she’s dark skinned and pretty! Are you serious?
Halle Berry is dark skinned and pretty and most people love her.
If she “can’t tolerate ignorance” she’s gonna have a hard row to hoe. The industry she’s in, as well as people at large, are full of it!
That is all.
denise
Halle Berry is a LIGHT SKINNED African American, in fact, she’s bi racial, which is one of the reasons (and surgery) why she has more Eurocentric looks, thus, why the mainstream (i.e., white audiences) “love her.” as you say. African Americans, not to mention many people color, Latino, Middle Easterners, Asians, come in a variety of colors, some even lighter than those of Western European decent. Ironically Zoe, is probably lighter than many caucasians who spent a lot of time on a tanning bed (see Snooki).
Try to look at a few black folks in real life more often, not just on the internet and TV.
i’m going to give her the benefit of the doubt and assume she probably will regret saying that. sometimes things just come out wrong. i mean– you can’t tolerate ignorance…. ummmm… are you all-seeing and all-knowing? all human beings are ignorant in some way. it’s just such a hollow statement. it conveys nothing. why even interview celebrities, anyway? they’re no more interesting or especially knowledgeable about life than anyone else. i just want to see good performances.
@ Oh Hey
I was pointing out that Zoe’s complexion probably had nothing to do with why people don’t like her. It was a careless thing to say. And Halle is not dark skinned necessarily, but she is darker than a white woman. She is a well respected and very successful actress, and considered black by most.
I’m not even going to address the last line of your comment , it was idiotic.
denise – you hear what you want to hear. Did you even read the earlier posts before you started commenting? How about my response to pooky?
I’ll paraphrase:
Thanks for the perfect example of how discussions of race are derailed. We can’t examine how skin color may factor into how people are perceived without someone protesting ‘You’re calling me racist?!’.
Just discussing how skin color may affect how this actress is perceived is “ridiculous” to you and racist? Right..
Ironic given how quick you were to scream “racism” because people don’t want to give convicted felon Chris Brown “another chance”. I guess to you race can only be an issue for black men. (Sad in particular because in the past you stated that you are a WOC. Correct me if this is not case.)
No Iggles, to me it’s sad that you are always playing the race card.
And FYI, I was’nt the one who brought up Chris’s race as an issue, you can check that yourself.
Why is it relevant to you if I’m a “WOC”? Right, ’cause you are always playing the race card.
And I think Pooky was just being cynical.
Sorry, left out the l. Iggles: Your are the one who constantly plays the race card, and you were the first to bring it up here. You were the one who implied that others were racist because they were criticizing Zoe. That’s a ridiculous accusation based on the information presented. If you haven’t noticed, a lot of actors/actresses get criticized around here.
denise – you’re talking out of two sides of your mouth. On the Chris threads you arguing his race had to do with why people weren’t giving him a pass for domestic violence. And now you’re claiming that I always bring up the race card? Right.
I think that it’s sad if you are a WOC, you argue “racism” when you believe unfairness happens to men of color (even in cases where it’s not relevant), but think it’s ridiculous to consider that race can affect how women of color are viewed (both in society and in mainstream media).
Oi – Saying that skin color (& the fact that Zoe doesn’t not live to the stereotype of what a black women look/acts/does) may have something to do with why some people perceive her negatively is NOT calling anyone who criticizes Zoe racist.
I argued both reasons may be why a lot of people may find her grating do. I stand by that 100%. Remember that a lot does not equal all.
Here’s my original statement:
I would say I don’t understand the Zoe hate. But honestly, I think a lot of people don’t like her because she’s pretty, thin, and dark skinned. She’s a leading lady that most people aren’t used to seeing and I think that grates more than her sound bytes in interviews. Instead of identifying with her as a kickass leading lady, she’s viewed as a threat and labeled arrogant.
I didn’t call anyone racist. The fact that you’re claiming I did proves my earlier response true:
We can’t examine how skin color may factor into how people are perceived without someone protesting ‘You’re calling me racist?!’.
I don’t understand why there is hate on Zoe for stating that she doesn’t like ignorance, who the hell does? Even if it is fairly common in Hollywood and the world in general, that doesn’t mean that one should just accept it. I don’t like misogyny/racism. It still exists and is arguably rampant.
Perhaps it would have been better if she said that she can’t tolerate stupidity? I feel like ignorance is the (sometimes innocent) absence of knowledge, whereas stupidity is the choice of being ignorant.
Iggles, I understand what you’re trying to say, but I honestly feel like there is so much hate in general thrown around in comments, that it can be hard to pin down the exact motivations behind it. But, I think your theory is a good one to start with.
Maybe people don’t like her, because, like many blonds, and/or overly attractive women (Gwen Paltrow), she feels the need to proactively dispute existing stereotypes about women in Hollywood and WOC in particular as far as pretty=stupid. If this is true, I understand her desire to do that.
Like her ignorance when she stated she gets passed over for roles because she is black? Plleeaasse WAY more talented, plus sized, not so attractive girls are getting passed over for your “looks” on a daily basis.
Is Gaby Sibide being considered for Zoe’s roles? i dont think so. Why wasnt Gaby featured in this issue of Vogue? hum gee i wonder why? Its Hollwood – Get a clue! This girl is an ungrateful, talentless hack whose 15 mins are over.
Woah, this thread got crazy since I last commented! Iggles, I think you should calm down. You constantly pointing race out is part of what makes race an issue. FYI, I am white and Zoe doesn’t make me “uncomfortable” in any way.
I wish Hollywood would use her more often, actually. The first time I saw Pirates of The Caribbean, I distinctly remember having a discussion afterwards with my friends about how they should’vd cast her as the lead instead of snoozefest Keira Knightly. She’s just more interesting to watch.
Iggles, the only thing making me uncomfortable on this page is you. You should really stop to consider that not everyone of one color thinks the same way. In fact, assuming that all light skinned people feel threatened by a dark skinned leading lady is in iteself racist. Please think about that.
@Iggles:
“Maybe, just maybe, we’d like more from our actresses playing action heroines than pouting eye-candy waving guns with skeletal arms whilst stripping for the lads’ mags. Go feminism!!”
Swap ‘Zoe Saldana’ for ‘Scarlett Johansson’ or ‘Sienna Miller’ and would you have a problem with that statement? Zoe would be a mediocre actress trading on her looks, whether she were black, white or purple.
DetRiotgirl – You should take your own advice.
In fact, assuming that all light skinned people feel threatened by a dark skinned leading lady is in iteself racist.
Didn’t say that! You’re the one jumping to conclusions. Amazing how if you mention the elephant in the room of how race may factor into perception some people read:
1- You’re calling anyone who disagrees you racist!
or
2- Stop playing the “race card”!
or
3- It’s racist to point out the fact that people see race!
and countless other variations. Never called anyone racist or said that only light-skinned people could be threatened by her not conforming to racial stereotypes.
We all soak in the biases and stereotypes of our society. People who have seen different (aka, seen examples of people who defy these stereotypes) often do speak out on what they know — how stereotypes are limiting and certainly serve a purpose.
WOW @ whoever said that Halle Berry is “dark skinned” lol NO she is not porcelain like Megan Fox but there is quite the disparity between Halle B tan caramel color & Zoe Saldana’s milk chocolatey color. I don’t think most ppl dislike Zoe Saldana bc she is dark(er), but she really is kinda boney, & not in a cute way (Taylor Swift) either …
pooky – Not at all. Disliking her because you think she’s a mediocre actress is a valid reason.
I was responding to the first part of your response:
Oh, yeah! We’re all racist here.
For the record, I don’t think criticizing Zoe automatically makes a person racist.
Iggles, you have way too much anger and time on your hands. You may not have called light skinned people out word for word in your orginal post, but it was quite clearly insinuated.
There’s nothing wrong with your theory. It may even have some truth to it. But, your sweeping generalizations and need to make lists ripping apart other users comments make me feel such a vast amount of negativity radiating off of your attitude that I find it hard to imagine having an unemotional conversation about this.
I stand by my position that pointing race out only makes us more aware that it exists. Zoe is beautiful, she’s a decent actress and I could not care less if she was brown, gold or polka dot. If we continue to make race such a huge issue, it will always be one.
That is my opinion, and you are free to disagree with it.
DetRiotgirl – Ah, so it’s #3. If only us brown folks would stop talking about race then racism would disappear! Gee golly, why didn’t we think of that? Could of became a post-racial society decades ago 😀
Iggles, are you kidding me? You know what’s really ironic? I originally commented on this page to defend Zoe Saldana. But, I guess I shouldn’t have done that since I’m not obviously not worthy of having an opinion. Have a great day Iggles. I’m done with you.
I haven’t seen the movie but I have OD’d on her.
She looks likes she’s taking an uncomfortable dump in that first photo. Not the most flattering shot.
I liked her in Star Trek a lot. And I want to see that new one “losers” I think it is. She’s hot.
“Iggles, you have way too much anger and time on your hands.”
I don’t have a problem with anyone agreeing or disagreeing, but I just find it ironic that someone who got her screename from getting into arguments and fights in real life is calling someone else out on their anger issues.
And for everyone else, White America make a big issue with race just as much as people of color do (this thread proves it). Think of all the time when race is discussed and somebody has a knee jerk reaction of “OMG playing the race card!!!!!!11111” Hundreds of comments denouncing Mel Gibson’s racist remarks won’t changes that.
And I want to point to point out another thing, some people have called Saldana arrogant in this thread. You’re entitled to that opinion, but I’ve noticed I read described about Gwyneth Paltrow, and I just saw the thread a while ago. And I know there’s more Gwyn haters than Zoe haters.
I think she is utterly gorgeous and nothing she said in her interview annoyed me. What was to get annoyed about?
She is more talented (not hard to be 😆 ) and far more beautiful than the likes of Halle Berry that is for sure. I hope to see this gorgeous woman in more movies.
Iggles
YOu must be thinking from one side of your brain, ’cause I never brought up race regarding any topic thus far. And as far as Chris’s situation I did’nt bring it up then either. I simply agreed that the poster who had stated that race may be an issue,probably had a point. As I told you before check the thread yourself.
I never once said that I was a woman of color, but you are so bent on color and race that you probably cooked that up yourself. Race was irrelevant on this topic of Zoe, but you always find a way to insert it into whatever topic that happens to be about a “colored” person. So predictable of you.
FYI
YOU were the one who brought up race on this thread.
Gosh, Iggles, didn’t you know that minorities should just shut up and stop pointing out injustices or calling out racism? Just quietly hope that one day we will live in ~color-free world~.
@Iggles
I agree 100% with your original statement. You’re entitled to your opinion just as everyone else who posts on this blog. Even Zoe Saldana, herself, has discussed how racism has impacted her ability to be cast in various roles she has auditioned for. Racism has always been a problem in the entertainment arena and it’s not likely to disappear anytime soon. Frankly, I like Ms. Saldana’s candor. Lena Horne was also a very straight forward woman who spoke her mind and very much respected until the day she died which was quite recent. What’s wrong with a “women of color” who’s trying to keep it real? Absolutely, NOTHING!!!
Iggles, you make complete sense and don’t sound angry at all.
I am black and this girl annoys the hell out of me. I don’t know what it is, but she does.
And @Iggles…lighten up (no pun intended). This is a hollywood gossip blog. We’re not trying to change the world here. Jeez!
@ Iggles,
I’m inclined to agree with your theory, but I think that it’s predicated on a speculative notion that was tenuous to begin with.
Had you created your argument with the support of more compelling evidence like – Zoe Saldana giving an interview with Fox News and people responding negatively on their website – then I think that your assertion would have been more appropriate because you would have been able to incorporate demographic factors. I don’t disagree with what you’re saying. It’s a valid possibility, but to immediately go there was a little glib.
Do people think she’s “annoying” and “trying too hard” because the blogger said that and everyone is following along? That seems to be the case a lot on this site!
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