When Zoe Saldana isn’t playing a blue-hued superhero in Star Trek, Guardians of the Galaxy and Avatar or raising three boys, she’s busy building BESE, her digital media company. As both CEO and Editor-in-Chief, Saldana created the platform, geared towards Millenials and the Gen Z pack, to promote inclusivity and tell inspiring stories about Latino role models. So, basically, no matter what she’s doing, on screen or off, she herself is a role model. Here, we get down to what it means to #EmbraceAmbition and the best advice she’s ever received.
#EmbraceAmbition means…
To accept yourself for wanting greatness. It is more than okay to want to succeed and be better every day.
The woman who inspires me to embrace ambition most is…
Lately I am really inspired by Reese Witherspoon. She took charge of her life, of her career and became her own boss. Hello Sunshine is a company with a mission to put a spotlight on the world through the eyes of women.
The best piece of advice I ever received was…
By my mother. Every time I would leave the house for an interview, an audition or to meet my friend’s parents, she would always say “Zoe, I hope you like them”. Later in life I realized she did that to remind me my opinion of others mattered just as much as their opinion of me. She still says it every day.
If I were a superhero, my powers would be…
Time travel. I would love to go back in time and relive moments with my father. He passed away when I was 9 years old.
I was inspired to get into acting when…
I saw Whoopi Goldberg in The Color Purple.
If I could play any role in Hollywood history it would be…
Queen Sheba. Very little is known of her and King Salomon but so much is assumed. I would love to materialize a story where she is glorified for the kingdom she created.
When I’m not acting, I’m …
Doing everything else that needs to be done in life. I’m being a mother, a wife, a sister, a daughter, a friend, a boss and I’m always a student. It’s important to keep learning from others.
If I weren’t an actor, I would be…
A child psychologist. I love children and I’m very passionate about understanding the whys and hows of their little lives.
Advice I would give my younger self…
That it is okay to say no. If you ever feel uncomfortable or misrepresented you have every right to say no and walk away.
More about #EmbraceAmbition & the Tory Burch Foundation:
In 2009, Tory launched the Tory Burch Foundation which provides access to capital, education and digital resources to empower women entrepreneurs. Learn more about the Foundation and #EmbraceAmbition here.