"Zoe Saldaña"

Summary

SmartLess Episode Summary: "Zoe Saldaña"

Release Date: December 2, 2024

In this engaging episode of SmartLess, hosts Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett welcome the renowned actress Zoe Saldaña. The conversation delves deep into Zoe's illustrious career, her experiences working on blockbuster films, her views on modern filmmaking technology, and her personal life as a mother and wife. Below is a detailed summary capturing all the key points, discussions, insights, and conclusions from the episode.

---

1. Introduction to Zoe Saldaña

Jason Bateman sets the stage by highlighting Zoe Saldaña's significant contributions to the film industry. He refers to her as a "triple A actress" due to her roles in top-grossing films like Avatar, Avatar: The Way of Water, and Avengers. This introduction underscores Zoe's unique position in Hollywood as the only actor to have starred in four films that each grossed over $2 billion individually.

Notable Quote:

Jason Bateman [10:27]: "This is a long time coming for me. Huge fan. My guest today is a box office powerhouse."

---

2. Early Life and Career Beginnings

Zoe shares her early life experiences, born in Jersey, New York, and moving to the Caribbean at age ten. The transition played a pivotal role in shaping her artistic inclinations. She discusses how early exposure to influential directors like James Cameron and Steven Spielberg ignited her passion for storytelling and performance.

Notable Quotes:

Zoe Saldaña [20:43]: "I knew what I didn't want to do. Performing. I transitioned. I danced ballet for like 10 years."

Zoe Saldaña [21:56]: "Art and storytelling became my go-to place. Reading books and science fiction and watching films and being these characters became really real to me."

---

3. Experiences on High-Profile Films

The discussion transitions to Zoe's involvement in major franchises. She provides an in-depth look into the making of Avatar, explaining the cutting-edge technology used to bring the Na'vi characters to life. Zoe emphasizes that technology supplements rather than substitutes the actors' performances, highlighting the collaboration between actors and filmmakers.

Notable Quotes:

Zoe Saldaña [29:07]: "The technology does not substitute the performances. It only supplements the performances."

Zoe Saldaña [33:56]: "Jim has always said that putting a human being with an animation always felt two different things. Unreal. It looks different."

She also touches on her role in Star Trek and her enthusiasm for returning to the franchise, expressing a desire to provide a proper send-off to the Next Generation series.

Notable Quote:

Zoe Saldaña [53:30]: "I kept saying yes because I wanted to experience prosthetics and makeup... It was such a feat."

---

4. Modern Filmmaking and Technology

Zoe delves into the intricate process of motion capture and digital rendering used in films like Avatar. She explains how actors perform in a "volume" equipped with multiple cameras and sensors, allowing their physical movements and facial expressions to be translated into digital avatars in real-time. This seamless integration ensures that performances remain authentic and lifelike within the digital environment.

Notable Quotes:

Zoe Saldaña [30:07]: "We're standing in the volume, and we are seeing ourselves as avatars in Pandora."

Zoe Saldaña [32:51]: "Putting a human being with an animation always felt two different things. Jim achieved it with Avatar."

---

5. Personal Life: Family and Parenting

Shifting gears, the conversation explores Zoe's personal life. She discusses her role as a mother of two boys and her marriage to Marco Perego. Zoe emphasizes the importance of bilingualism and cultural heritage in her family, highlighting how her children naturally pick up languages like English, Italian, and Spanish through daily interactions without formal teaching.

Notable Quotes:

Zoe Saldaña [42:01]: "How can I reach you? It doesn't mean I'm the best mom, but I wake up every day and that's the only role that I want to pursue every day."

Zoe Saldaña [48:07]: "We became very English oriented in the way that we bond. My kids question everything."

She also shares touching anecdotes about coping with the loss of her father at a young age and how art and family support played a crucial role in her healing process.

Notable Quote:

Zoe Saldaña [46:22]: "Art became this healing assistant to my mom and to us. That really helped us."

---

6. Reflections on Acting and Personal Growth

Zoe reflects on her journey from performing in commercials to starring in major films. She discusses the challenges of auditions, sharing stories of initial setbacks and the importance of supportive casting directors. Her commitment to authenticity in her roles is evident as she describes her passion for acting and storytelling.

Notable Quotes:

Zoe Saldaña [51:17]: "I really did hate that process because it really fed into my anxiety."

Zoe Saldaña [27:20]: "I knew then I was like, I just want to act. I want to play characters. I want to tell stories. I want to be other people."

---

7. Conclusion and Final Thoughts

As the episode wraps up, the hosts express their admiration for Zoe's achievements and her unique presence in the film industry. Jason Bateman reiterates his excitement for Zoe's upcoming projects, including "Amelia Perez," and lauds her contributions to cinema.

Notable Quote:

Jason Bateman [57:25]: "Thank you for this conversation. I've enjoyed. I can't wait to see the movie."

Zoe reciprocates the gratitude, appreciating the genuine and thought-provoking dialogue shared during the episode.

---

Key Takeaways

• Zoe Saldaña's Versatility: From blockbuster franchises to indie films, Zoe exemplifies versatility and dedication in her acting craft.

• Technological Integration in Filmmaking: The use of advanced motion capture and digital rendering in films like Avatar enhances authenticity without replacing human performances.

• Cultural Heritage and Parenting: Zoe emphasizes the importance of cultural roots and bilingualism in her family, fostering a rich and inclusive environment for her children.

• Personal Resilience: Overcoming early life challenges through art and family support, Zoe's journey highlights the therapeutic power of storytelling.

---

Highlights with Timestamps

• [20:31] Introduction of Zoe Saldaña: Jason Bateman introduces Zoe as a "box office powerhouse" and the only actor in history to star in four films grossing over $2 billion each.

• [29:07] On Technology in Acting: Zoe discusses how technology supplements performances in Avatar, ensuring authenticity in digital characters.

• [42:01] Parenting Philosophy: Zoe shares her approach to parenting, emphasizing curiosity and open communication with her children.

• [51:17] Audition Challenges: Zoe recounts her initial struggles with auditions and the role of supportive casting directors in her success.

---

This episode of SmartLess offers a profound insight into Zoe Saldaña's life both on and off the screen, celebrating her achievements and the personal philosophies that drive her success. Listeners gain a deeper appreciation for the complexities of modern filmmaking and the personal resilience that shapes a top-tier actress.

Transcript

[Jason Bateman]

While Hilton is always expected to have top notch service, you'd be surprised at the unexpected places they're offering it now. They've partnered with autocamp, which offers insanely cool Airstreams and iconic outdoor destinations. Hilton also has an exclusive partnership with small luxury hotels of the world, providing Hilton Honors members access to over 300 luxury boutique hotels across the globe. And they've added romantic and refined nomad hotels and graduate hotels in your favorite college towns to their portfolio. Explore all the new ways to stay with those Hilton Honors points you've been [e-mail] Hilton for the stay.

[Will Arnett]

All right everybody, this is massive. Don't miss Juventus taking on Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League. It all goes down on Wednesday, December 11th at 3pm Eastern, streaming exclusively on Paramount. + head to paramountplus.com apple.com livesports and sign up today.

[Jason Bateman]

Apple Cart is the perfect card for your holiday shopping. You can apply on your iPhone in minutes and start using it right away. You'll earn up to 3% daily cash back on every purchase, including products at Apple like a new iPhone 16 or Apple Watch Ultra. Start holiday shopping for your friends and family today with Apple Card. Apply now in the Wallet app on iPhone Subject to credit Apple Card issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA Salt Lake City branch terms and [e-mail].

[Sean Hayes]

So hello here. This is a cold open to our upcoming episode of Smartless.

[Will Arnett]

The cold open is Jason the cold.

[Sean Hayes]

Open, where we do a little bit of banter.

[Will Arnett]

Have we prepared anything?

[Sean Hayes]

Have we prepared nothing? Can we just get a suggestion from the audience? What is it?

[Will Arnett]

That'd be great.

[Sean Hayes]

Bananas. Bananas is the prompt.

[Will Arnett]

It makes me think of what? It makes me think of Breakfast.

[Jason Bateman]

Breakfast. Welcome to Smart Less.

[Sean Hayes]

Terrible, terrible cold open.

[Will Arnett]

Smart.

[Sean Hayes]

Smart.

[Will Arnett]

Smart less.

[Sean Hayes]

Hey, Sean.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

Anything you'd like to say to the listening world?

[Jason Bateman]

I did go recently with me and Scotty and two other friends to an escape room and it was. Have you ever been? Have you ever been?

[Sean Hayes]

Was it inside your house?

[Will Arnett]

Well, you know why I haven't been? Because you know who went to an escape room this weekend? Nash. For his seventh birthday.

[Sean Hayes]

Couldn't get in. There were too many seventh graders in there.

[Will Arnett]

You know what? You know what else Nash is into?

[Jason Bateman]

No.

[Will Arnett]

Lightsabers.

[Jason Bateman]

That's right.

[Will Arnett]

Star Wars.

[Jason Bateman]

But let me tell you. But I like the problem solving of escape rooms.

[Will Arnett]

Do you have a mirror close by? I need you to look in the mirror right now. I need you to fucking have a conversation with yourself right now and say it. Dude, I blew it.

[Jason Bateman]

Have you ever done it? Blew it. Have you ever done it?

[Sean Hayes]

I don't think I have. I know my.

[Will Arnett]

After all that. Yes, well.

[Sean Hayes]

With your kids though, right?

[Will Arnett]

Well, I did. I did it with the kids. But I will say it's really fun and it's hard.

[Jason Bateman]

Collect.

[Will Arnett]

Here's part of the other thing that people don't understand when we.

[Jason Bateman]

And because I haven't done one in years and it was great.

[Will Arnett]

Is that. Well, you were in that real, right?

[Jason Bateman]

Weren't you?

[Will Arnett]

In some guy, he built a thing in his basement and he tried to put you in there. You were in there for like 18 months or some shit. That was moving here. You were like in the.

[Jason Bateman]

That was consensual.

[Sean Hayes]

Hey, where could I get out of here?

[Will Arnett]

Wasn't there something that he wanted you to put lotion in the basket or something? What happened with that?

[Jason Bateman]

Yes, I'm telling you, it was consensual.

[Will Arnett]

Forget the details. Remember you telling me once, anyway, that's an escape room. But I will say that we like to give each other shit. Because I was thinking about, I give you shit, I rip on it like, no, it's for fucking kids and blah, blah, blah. And of course I've done it myself. And so then people sometimes will go like, you guys are just too mean or whatever. I'm like, oh, yeah, we're fucking around, man. Just having a laugh.

[Sean Hayes]

You know what I really enjoyed with the kids is laser tag. Have you guys done those ones? Yes, I have.

[Jason Bateman]

Yes.

[Will Arnett]

I won. With a bunch of 12 year olds. I won.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah. No, no. Here comes Sean again with another adult play date.

[Jason Bateman]

I did it with Bella Bajaria for her birthday.

[Sean Hayes]

You did it with Bella, Netflix's greatest Bella Bajari?

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, yeah, we did it for her birthday one year.

[Sean Hayes]

Come on, it was my call.

[Jason Bateman]

There was a long time ago.

[Will Arnett]

I remember it was really fun. Remember, like, everybody was like, super hipstery and it was like, hey, we're going to go and do kickball. Adult kickball league. Then we're going to go do laser tag. And then we all drive like old BMX bikes.

[Jason Bateman]

Yes.

[Will Arnett]

I've got an ironic bicycle. Do you have an ironic bicycle? Like, you know what I mean?

[Jason Bateman]

Wait, did you do paintball? I did my oldest brother Dennis for his. For his wedding. I was the best man.

[Sean Hayes]

Oh, yeah. You know what I had to do? I did paintball training for a movie once.

[Will Arnett]

Paintball?

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah. When we did Kingdom, we. We had to go out and do paintball fights and it was really, really scary. Getting hunted by.

[Zoe Saldana]

By.

[Sean Hayes]

By someone by gosh.

[Will Arnett]

I was talking to the kids went paintballing last week. I was just talking to them on the way to school today about paintball.

[Jason Bateman]

It's fun, right?

[Will Arnett]

I've never done it. I've always wanted to do it.

[Jason Bateman]

Oh, it's really painful.

[Will Arnett]

I killed somebody with a real gun.

[Jason Bateman]

Oh, well.

[Will Arnett]

Let's get to the guest. Let's get to the guest.

[Jason Bateman]

I do want to get to the guest. Let's get to the guest. She's really.

[Will Arnett]

I want to get to the guest, too. But hang on, I just want to say. What? Here's the thing. I was just going to go on a couple things about. Do we have a segment yet called Just Stuff I Hate? Or should we.

[Jason Bateman]

Or we absolutely should have kind of.

[Sean Hayes]

Unofficially covered every week with you, but thank you.

[Will Arnett]

Thank you.

[Jason Bateman]

In the body of the show, it's.

[Will Arnett]

A new expression that I'm adding to storyteller, which is everywhere you go now. And I think it started in the golf world, I think. But it's everywhere and it drives me fucking crazy. Welcome in.

[Sean Hayes]

Oh, this is this.

[Will Arnett]

Welcome in.

[Jason Bateman]

Welcome in.

[Sean Hayes]

Phrases that we'd like to never hear again.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah.

[Will Arnett]

Have you heard people say welcome in?

[Sean Hayes]

I have not.

[Will Arnett]

You go welcome in. Why are we saying in? Just say. Well, if you. If you feel the need to say, just say welcome.

[Jason Bateman]

Wait. 2. That I have that I don't like is because I watch a lot of. I watch a lot of football now, as you know.

[Will Arnett]

Have a day.

[Jason Bateman]

Have a day is. Well, I said this the other day when all the announcers always go, we got some play action. They like just saying play action. Just say they have the ball or whatever they do.

[Will Arnett]

I brought that up to our friend that we did the show with jb. I brought that up to Peyton Manning last week. Yeah, yeah, I brought up that. I said that you hated that. They overuse play action.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah. Because they make. And then when you're on a flight, they go, stewardess, cross check, cross check and something.

[Sean Hayes]

Cross check, cross check.

[Will Arnett]

Is the door secure or not?

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah. How about door.

[Sean Hayes]

You know what? I'm glad they're not saying much more much anymore is touch base.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah, let me touch base.

[Zoe Saldana]

Yeah.

[Jason Bateman]

By a way, I'm going to touch. I'm circle back. I'm going to circle back.

[Sean Hayes]

Circle back. Or in the theater world, they say, oh, oh, it's in a great space. Oh, we found a great space to do that.

[Will Arnett]

If we're going to go deep. If we're going to go deep these days, a welcome in again.

[Jason Bateman]

Welcome in is bad.

[Will Arnett]

I guess it feels kind of folksy. But the other thing that has exploded in the last couple years.

[Sean Hayes]

Breathe well, has.

[Will Arnett]

Well, for the five years before it was people all of a sudden discovered the word narra, didn't know it and they used it over your.

[Jason Bateman]

That's true, that's true.

[Will Arnett]

But the other one is to your point, everybody go to his point.

[Jason Bateman]

Oh, but I say it all the time on this show.

[Will Arnett]

I know you say it a lot. You sound like a moron. It has been you. You do. And it is so overused.

[Sean Hayes]

No, but I mean the one that's very overused now is right. They will very educated people will be telling a story and we're going along. Right? And blah, blah, blah. Right? And it's like, no, you don't need to keep pulling me along with. Right. I'm with you. I'm nodding.

[Jason Bateman]

We don't.

[Will Arnett]

Pulling me along. I think that that's been around for a while, though.

[Sean Hayes]

I feel like it's used much, much, much more often now.

[Jason Bateman]

My God, you guys, we have to get to the guest.

[Sean Hayes]

We're going to get to you in a second. Sit tight.

[Will Arnett]

So I know that I complain a lot and all of that shit drives me crazy and I'm sorry. So thank you for bringing. However, you know what does drive me crazy? You know, I'm really excited about Sean. You know what I'm going to say. Oh, it's the new smartless media.

[Jason Bateman]

Clueless.

[Will Arnett]

Clueless.

[Jason Bateman]

It's a new show.

[Will Arnett]

Don't leave me hanging on podcast. I set you up.

[Jason Bateman]

I know, but I wanted to call the podlet.

[Sean Hayes]

Could it be called a podlet?

[Jason Bateman]

Oh, it's a podlet.

[Sean Hayes]

It's only like 10 minutes long.

[Will Arnett]

Yes, it's a podlet. Jason, you are. I would. This is mooch you right now.

[Jason Bateman]

So this is a new podlet called Smartly.

[Will Arnett]

Just a million little kisses want to smooch you.

[Jason Bateman]

So yeah. So that's great. It's a podlet. It is called Smart List Clueless and it's a bite sized twice weekly puzzle podcast. There's a bunch of puzzles like if you like Wordle and stuff like that and the New York Times crosswords. You'll love this. They're 10 to 12 minute podlets. It's really fun. The host is Elliot Kalin. He's the former head writer of the Daily show with Jon Stewart.

[Sean Hayes]

So you're the permanent contestant or the permanent host?

[Jason Bateman]

Permanent contestant.

[Will Arnett]

You're permanent contestant. And then other contestants come and they, they work in conjunction with you.

[Jason Bateman]

And you guys were. Did the first.

[Will Arnett]

We did it.

[Jason Bateman]

Yes.

[Sean Hayes]

I was kind of clueless about what it was about until I got on it.

[Will Arnett]

Very, very, very, very, very nice.

[Jason Bateman]

So every Monday and Thursday, don't miss the fun. You can subscribe to Clueless wherever you get your podcasts. Anyway, let's get on to the smart Less. Yeah. My guest today. This is very exciting. This is a long time coming for me. Huge fan. My guest today is a box office powerhouse. I refer to her as the triple A actress. I'll explain in a little bit. In the early 2000s, you might remember her as a ballet dancer trying to get picked for the American Ballet Academy in New York City. Or from taking a cross country road trip with Britney Spears. Huh? Anything. However, her recent notable characters are mostly blue and green in complexion. And I can't wait for the new movie to come out. I can't wait to talk about it. And although she herself is hip and cool, every sci fi nerd like me knows who she is. Is the magnetic, the most incredible Zoe Saldana.

[Sean Hayes]

Hello there. Good morning.

[Jason Bateman]

I'm so excited. This is so exciting for me.

[Zoe Saldana]

First of all, it was exciting to listen to you guys talk. I was like mesmerized. Just like the normal conversation.

[Will Arnett]

We're always nervous that we're like, the person is sitting there thinking like, these guys are ding dong.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah. Hey, I'm so excited to see Emilia Perez. I have.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, I'm seeing it tomorrow.

[Sean Hayes]

Well, should we watch it tonight?

[Jason Bateman]

Do you have it?

[Sean Hayes]

Yes.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah.

[Zoe Saldana]

Oh, my God. Please watch it tonight.

[Jason Bateman]

Okay.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah, and then we're gonna. Then where should we email our notes? Cause you guys aren't locked yet, right? We'll get them to you just a time.

[Jason Bateman]

You guys can do pickups, right?

[Zoe Saldana]

I'll give you my email and then you can. I'll forward it to Jacques. Actually, I'll give you Jacques Odard's email and you can. I heard Google translated to French, though he doesn't speak English.

[Sean Hayes]

Is that true? Was all the communication via an interpreter during the film?

[Zoe Saldana]

Yes, yes, we had many interpreters and there were many languages spoken. It was Spanish and English and French and some Italian.

[Jason Bateman]

And are you bilingual? Do you speak all of those?

[Zoe Saldana]

I'm kind of. I was raised bilingual, but I'm kind of trilingual now because my husband's Italian.

[Jason Bateman]

Oh, wow.

[Zoe Saldana]

And I picked it up after so many years. Wow. Also always figuring out whether or not he was hustling me like Italians are hustlers. Wait, what do you speak? Slow. What Is that. No, but it was. It was great. But Jacques is known for, you know, working outside of his language. This is not the first foreign, you know, film that he's done. He did a film called Deepan, which was with these Indian actors, and then he did a film years before called A Prophet, and that was. That had some Arabic as well. He's not defied by language. He likes to kind of connect with human beings, you know, and challenge himself out and, you know, when it comes to whether or not they speak the same tongue. He just likes to find ways to communicate with people and connect with people.

[Jason Bateman]

I love that.

[Sean Hayes]

You know, that would be. Don't you think that would be really difficult to gauge somebody's performance if you. If it's not in your native tongue? Right. Because, I mean, think about all the ways you can. You can vary a reading of a line and the nuance of it, and if you don't know the language that they're. It's hard to read intonation. I can't. I don't know.

[Zoe Saldana]

Maybe. But here's. Here's the thing. I think as somebody that speaks, you know, different languages, but also understanding that English is a very distinct, you know, language, I feel like that exists mainly in English rather than, like, the romantic languages. It's more of. It's more of a feeling than the words. Like, you know, like I was gonna say. Right. It's hard to explain.

[Jason Bateman]

Jason, I don't know if you've ever heard of this, but love is a universal language language. Wait, what.

[Sean Hayes]

What's love? Tell me what?

[Zoe Saldana]

I know. It's side dish.

[Sean Hayes]

When did you guys finish that?

[Zoe Saldana]

We shot it. We shot it summer of 2023.

[Sean Hayes]

Okay.

[Jason Bateman]

Oh, wow.

[Zoe Saldana]

From April. From April to, like, July. Right. And we. We wrapped right before the strike, like, a couple of days before the strike.

[Jason Bateman]

Are you so happy with it, by the way? I'm. I. It's in my notes to get to, like, at the end of this interview, but we're talking about it now. You, including three of your co stars, won the award in Cannes for best performances, Right? It's pretty. Pretty outstanding. I can't wait to see this. It looks. Because on paper, I was reading the description, it was like, singing and dancing and this and that and other. But other storylines that I want to give away. But it sounds incredible.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah. And there's danger and a robbery or something, too, right? Or, like, it's got everything.

[Zoe Saldana]

You know, it dabbles in so many different genres, and it doesn't stay in one place. And I feel like that. That just feels fresh, you know, we all signed up to work with Jacques Odiar. I've been a fan of his work since I was a teenager. And he was, you know, one of those, like, top three directors in my bucket list that I felt would never happen. Right when this opportunity came. It's like a niche of a niche movie. It's in Spanish, It's a musical. It centers around four women. The main character goes through a major transition, you know, trying to find herself. And everything about this felt dangerous and super risky. So it was totally aligned with what I want to do with who I feel like I am, you know, And I want to reconnect with that part of me as an artist. I didn't think that it was going to be seen by many, many people. I just thought I was going to scratch something out of my bucket list and feel so happy that I collaborated with an amazing filmmaker. Cannes was a surprise for us.

[Jason Bateman]

Isn't that amazing?

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah. How was that there? Was it. Was it just, like, all, like, the pomp and circumstance of that festival? And it was just, like, glamorous and fantastic all the way through it. It must have been amazing.

[Zoe Saldana]

Yeah. Well, I mean. And he is, you know, he's a fan favorite. They're very proud of their own, you know. So Cannes was a wonderful festival to premiere Emilia, but I think it's the movie. I think this movie feels really important, and it's audacious and it's provocative, and it's a bit campy and melodramatic, and those are things that I think audiences are wanting to have a little bit more of. Sometimes films can be so linear, and that makes them a little now, cold, sterile. You know, stories sometimes can get really sterile when you try to do everything right. What if you throw everything away and you sort of go off script and you fall and you collaborate with your artist, as opposed to sort of kind of being super stuck with a vision. And this is the vision. And this is the vision. Jacques sort of, like, is very much a traditional director, but he's also a person that is yearning to connect with people, you know, through cinema. Otherwise, he would be locked up in his room, like, just reading that. He's an avid reader, he's an intellectual mind, and he's a bit shy in social gatherings. So cinema and stories is the way that he kind of connects with the world and the way that he allows his artists and also every department to add to the story. It just felt. It felt like an experiment, and that within itself became the experience of Emilia Perez for us.

[Jason Bateman]

Wow, that's so cool.

[Zoe Saldana]

Yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

And we will be right back.

[Jason Bateman]

You're probably good at a lot of things like, I don't know, watching tv. And finally, that greatness is being recognized and rewarded by Sling. Introducing rewards from Sling With Sling's Watch and Win sweepstakes. All you have to do is watch 30 minutes of TV daily for chances to win up to $10,000 in cash and other prizes monthly. There's no catch. Sling is seriously giving away chances for you to get paid by your TV provider just for watching the TV they provide. You can earn rewards by signing up for Sling or for a free account with Sling Freestream, which gives you 500 plus channels or always free TV and movies. Sling's Cloud DVR lets you record your shows to watch on your schedule. There's no complex technology, no long term contracts and no hidden rigmarole. Watch TV anywhere at any time and get rewarded with Sling. Sign up for free [e-mail] win that's sling.com win watch TV every day and improve your chances of winning $10,000 in cash and other prizes monthly. Sling.com win. You already love DoorDash and now there's even more to love with the new DoorDash Dash Pass annual Plan benefit. Here it is. Drumroll please. Max with ads is now included at no extra cost. That means you can have, say, a sloppy joe dinner delivered with DoorDash and stream Emmy winning comedy series like the Max original hacks. Plus what goes better with the HBO original series House of the Dragon than a fiery dragon roll from your favorite sushi spot. And if you're rewatching Friends, don't be surprised if those coffee shop scenes make you crave having a latte delivered stat. Of course, you still get all of your favorite Dash Pass annual plan benefits too, like unlimited $0 delivery fees on eligible orders and exclusive members only offers and menu items. Sign up for DashPass annual plan and get Max included at no extra cost. It's your door to more terms and conditions apply. Max is now included with your Dash Pass annual plan. Stream Max with ads up to a 120 value included at no extra cost. Terms apply. See doordash.commax for details. Did you know that every year over 1 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes? That's why Goodrx is here to help with 20 popular diabetes medications for less than $20. And this hits home for me, especially because Scotty, my husband, has diabetes ever since he was 17 years old. GoodRx is Free and easy to use. Just search for any prescription on the Goodrx website or app. Get your coupon and show it to the pharmacist. Check Goodrx to save up to 80% at pharmacies near you, including Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, Publix, Albertsons, Kroger and many more. Remember, GoodRx works whether you have insurance or not. And even if you have insurance, GoodRx could beat your co pay price. Whether you're refilling a diabetes medication or picking up any other prescription, don't forget to check Goodrx for savings on diabetes medications and other everyday prescriptions, check GoodRx. Go to GoodRx.com smartless that's GoodRx.com smartless.

[Sean Hayes]

And now back to the show.

[Will Arnett]

Zoe, you talk about bucket lists. Where did that bucket list start for you? Where and when? Where were you when you decided that you wanted to be a performer?

[Zoe Saldana]

It's funny. I'm a Gemini. I live a very absent minded life. I don't make conscious decisions. I just, I go with the flow. I knew what I didn't want to do.

[Will Arnett]

But when? Sorry, sorry, but where was that? Like, where were you? Where'd you grow up?

[Zoe Saldana]

Like, New York. I was born in New York. I was born in Jersey. But I don't like to say that because we're New Yorkers. Since 1961. I'm a daughter of immigrants and my grandma arrived there in 1961. And we're like native New Yorkers. Right. So in New York partially. And then at the age of 10, we moved to the Caribbean. So we did sort of like the reverse migration. We went back to where my family's from. And I did, you know, my formative years, like from 10 to 17, 10 to 18, I lived there. And then we returned back to New York. I think that the beginning of my bucket list happened unconsciously. I must have been like six or seven. And James Cameron was probably the first name there.

[Jason Bateman]

Oh, wow.

[Zoe Saldana]

Along with like Steven Spielberg, there were films that were very memorable to me when I was growing up because of the characters. Like Sarah Connor was this character that just spoke to me. She just an Ellen Ripley. Ellen Ripley.

[Jason Bateman]

Love it.

[Zoe Saldana]

Spoke to me. She was just this amazing woman that found ways to survive against these extraterrestrials that were looking to use her body, you know, as a host. And.

[Jason Bateman]

And what a gamble for James at the time or for anybody to stick a woman in the lead of that with that much power. Yeah. And strength. I love it.

[Zoe Saldana]

And for Steven Spielberg, you know, the ET man, the Shark man, to then, you know, direct the Color Purple and Whoopi Goldberg. This, this character became so, you know, when your little life is just bigger and brighter and more impactful. So I think that unconsciously I was tapping into art in the way that films were just taking me with them, you know, and making, building a reality for me that, ja, that was healing, that was medicinal, you know, when I needed it. Like, I was very much. I'm one of three girls, but I'm a solitary person, like. And maybe, maybe there's a little bit of. I'm on the spectrum of some sort, I guess. But in the 80s nobody really talked about that. But my sisters are able to sustain relationships with friends and function. And I was sort of like this loner that was protected by my sisters because sometimes I would annoy people because of whatever was, you know. So art and storytelling became my go to place. You know, reading books and science fiction and watching films and being these characters, you know, became really real to me. And it wasn't until like I was a teenager and I kept clashing. My dad died when I was nine. I'm telling you everything. I feel like, Chunk, this is great. This is from the Goonies, you know, everything. Okay, I'll try. That's great. But no, you know, my dad died and my sisters and I, we were 8, 9 and 10. And that was like a big, you know, life changing sort of event in our lives. And art became this healing sort of, you know, assistant to my mom and to us. That really helped us. So they did. My sister became like, she painted and Cicely and I, my younger sister and I, we started dancing ballet. And that helped me sort of art helped me just cope with shit, you know, because life is hard when you're little, socializing, starting over in a new environment, different language, different people, different culture. Like, that's always like a very big thing for kids.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah. And I heard you say in an interview once that you. I don't know if you were joking or not, that you were kind of an arsonist at some point.

[Zoe Saldana]

Yes.

[Jason Bateman]

Is that true?

[Zoe Saldana]

Well, I have three boys and one of my boy just lives on his own. He's like this lone little wolf and I guess I feel kindred to him. Yes. I would do weird shit that my mom. I think that my mom became an insomniac because of that. Because I would wake up in the middle of the night. I don't remember these things, by the way. Now she's just jokingly Mentioning them. And I'm just like, well, mom, that, that's some serious stuff. She goes, I know, I know. Like one time you just, you. I don't know if you were sleepwalking. You just turned on the hot water and you got in the tub and you burned yourself.

[Jason Bateman]

Oh, geez.

[Zoe Saldana]

It was like 2:00 in the morning. And she was just like, is my kid crazy? Like, am I not really addressing this? Like, is my kid off? Like, I would turn on toasters and. Or like, you know, like turn on the stove and to boil an egg, but I wouldn't put water in the pot. I would just throw the eggs inside the pot and I would like. I guess she said, and at one point you liked the way the, the eggs sounded when they broke inside the pot. And I was like, oh, how interesting. So I have a little one that does that.

[Jason Bateman]

Well, it was like sleep. It was probably sleepwalking. No.

[Zoe Saldana]

Or just curious. Just a naturally curious child that probably needed a lot of verbal communication in order for me to understand my sensations. I was a sensory seeker. I was always like seeking things that catered to my. And taste and my feelings. It's just sensory seeking, I guess.

[Will Arnett]

I want to know, I think we all want to know how you started performing. Like, was it a school play or was it an inspiration from a show or a movie or something? Like, what was the thing that got you? What was that first thing that got you going?

[Zoe Saldana]

Performing. I transitioned. I danced ballet for like 10 years. And I realized that I couldn't break, I couldn't shatter my glass ceiling. I didn't have the feet. And that became a very. Just painful confession to tell yourself, you know. But then it was like transition. I love storytelling and I was able to tell stories with my body. So I was in this little theater company in the city and I was playing Mrs. Potiphar from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcaught Musical. And there was a man.

[Jason Bateman]

I was about to sing all the songs, but Joseph. Yeah, exactly.

[Zoe Saldana]

It's such a great musical. And there was a manager there and she signed me and I first started going to like, I would book commercials. So my first gigs were doing. I did a Burger King commercial. Two for two or something, just the two of us. And I remember I got my SAG card from that commercial.

[Will Arnett]

That's big though. I mean, that's.

[Zoe Saldana]

It was, it was. And that's. And that's when I knew I'm like, what one. I didn't want to do commercials. I knew then and I was like, I just want to. I want to act. I want to. I want to play characters. I want to tell stories. I want to be other people.

[Sean Hayes]

Well, Zoe, the amount of big, huge budget spectacle films that you've done is astounding. Yeah. I mean, I don't know if anyone's done more.

[Jason Bateman]

Well, Jason, I referred to you in the intro as a triple. The triple A actress, which means the top three movies of all time you're starring in, which is Avatar, Avatar, the Way of Water, and Avengers. You're probably the only actor in all three.

[Zoe Saldana]

That's crazy. Today. Today. I know that these records will always.

[Sean Hayes]

Be astonishing, but then there's Guardians, and then there's Star Trek. Even the smaller films. A Cool out of the Furnace is one of my favorite movies of all time.

[Jason Bateman]

Oh, my God.

[Zoe Saldana]

It was a story.

[Sean Hayes]

I think it's just stunningly good and center.

[Jason Bateman]

I love center stage.

[Sean Hayes]

Do you have a. I mean, I bet you'll say you like doing both, which I'm sure everybody would, but, you know, when you're on one of those big, huge movie sets, like, you might not do much more than, like, a half a page over the course of a week.

[Jason Bateman]

Right.

[Sean Hayes]

Where you're doing the smaller films, you're doing, like, five, six pages a day sometimes. And do you have a. Do you have a preference? I mean, the big ones are exciting.

[Zoe Saldana]

I like everything. I think that, you know that I'm gonna answer the way you were expecting, but, you know, Avatar was really special in the sense that. The way that we shoot it. I wish people can understand that the technology does not substitute the performances. It only supplements the performances. Totally.

[Jason Bateman]

And you got things sticking out of your head, and you're so real. I mean, you're like.

[Zoe Saldana]

And we go through months of training because it is. It basically Jim paints, you know, those pixel. Pixelated, you know, things over what we do. So he's. It's not that we sit in a studio and we record, like, an animation. It's like all the work that you do is the work that you see, you know, on Avatar. And that form of acting is incredibly. Just exciting.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

So what you guys do is you'll stand and you will perform the scene, and they will shoot it with a camera, just like normal. And then. And this is a question. And then afterwards, they then take that real footage, which usually is the movie that we all see, but they take that footage and then they create a digital version of your bodies and basically create effectively digitally animated characters from it.

[Zoe Saldana]

Yes.

[Jason Bateman]

Okay.

[Zoe Saldana]

But it's not an animator that is guessing, you know, or estimating how you're moving. No, no, it is your performance because it's. They have these reference cameras.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah.

[Zoe Saldana]

But they, But Jim has also created this like, you know, this, this, this gimbal of a camera.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah.

[Zoe Saldana]

That is the. It's in Pandora. So when you're moving there, there are all these big screens. Let me know if I lose you. When we're shooting, we're shooting in a set that we call the volume. And the reason why it's the volume is because all these cameras that are attached in the ceiling of our set are pointing all through this sort of square, this space that's called the volume. So once you're in and you have all these dots and you have to. You rom yourself in. So they enter you into the system.

[Sean Hayes]

There's all these motion capture points on your body. Yeah.

[Zoe Saldana]

And you're wearing this helmet that has these cameras here that are also then registering every single muscle on your face. So they sync all of that information. And you then, once you enter the volume, you're in Pandora on real time. So you and I can be talking, standing in the volume. And if we stare at the screens that he has all through the volume facing us, we're seeing ourselves as avatars in Pandora, where we're standing. So what he does is he documents everything. And his technicians, he works with people from WADA and New Zealand and he has people from all over the world, but they're mainly here in Los Angeles and in New Zealand. They're just basically painting over what we're doing. Cause it's already in the system. Does that make sense?

[Jason Bateman]

Yes.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah. And is the overall goal of that, as opposed to like, let's say in Star wars you have like a real person mixed into a later down the line created digital environment. So you have a real person in a created digital environment.

[Zoe Saldana]

Like a green screen.

[Sean Hayes]

Right. In Avatar the. Is the gold the reason that he's taking you and putting you into a digital form? So that your digital form is in the same medium as the digitally created environment as well. So that there's no difference between the, say a human body in a digital form in a digital environment in Star wars versus with this, it's a digital form inside a digital environment. So everything is the same in the medium. Is that, is that, is that the reasoning?

[Zoe Saldana]

I think so. You kind of blew my mind there. You know, I was like. I was like, oh my God, he's really taken it there. Yes, yes. That might be the. If what if what you're saying is what I'm understanding, then. Yes.

[Jason Bateman]

Yes. Will you call me later and explain it to me, what he just said?

[Sean Hayes]

Just trying to put everything in the same thing, right?

[Zoe Saldana]

Yes. Well, Jim has always said that. That putting a human being with an animation always felt two different things. Unreal. It looks different. It's like who Framed Roger Rabbit? Remember, like how Zemeckis. It's Zemeckis, right? George Lucas. Is it Zemeckis or Lucas that did Roger?

[Sean Hayes]

Robert Zemeckis.

[Zoe Saldana]

Robert Zemeckis. Thank you. So these filmmakers have always been ahead of their time and they've always tried to sort of invent the technology that is able then to allow them to capture their vision. Jim is that same. I call them kind of scientists because they're inventing things that will later on down the line, just evolve the way that we make films and the way that we view films. Right. So for Jim, the challenge was to make a human being and an alien, an animated alien, look as if they were in the. Yes. So that was. That was his goal and he achieved it with Avatar.

[Sean Hayes]

And you're doing number four and number five right now.

[Zoe Saldana]

And, yes, we finished three. So now they're. They're just, you know, they have a year now to. To basically render all of the information that we shot, everything that we shot.

[Will Arnett]

So. And how long did it take to shoot your scenes, The. The actor scenes?

[Zoe Saldana]

Well, I'm only. I only play a Navi. I'm not an Avatar. So hours is the shortest sort of shoot. And it takes anywhere between five to seven months to shoot.

[Jason Bateman]

Wow.

[Zoe Saldana]

And then after that, then they go to New Zealand and they spend a year there, sometimes shooting live action. And they'll do the green screen and then they'll assemble the whole thing in the same medium. And that takes a lot of time. Incredible.

[Jason Bateman]

You know, I mean, the first time I saw it, I have to say, you know, we're getting to your other movies other than just Avatar, but your portrayal of Neytiri is like. It was so real. And that had to be like. When I went in, I was like, what's this gonna be about? I kind of, like, had a thing and I was like, you know that years and years ago when the first one came out, and I was like, wow, that's like. That's Zoe being, like, being this person. It was wild to see, wild to see and incredible.

[Zoe Saldana]

It's beautiful when actors collaborate with their filmmakers. And that was the very first time that I had an experience where I was cast very early on in the process of putting the Na'vi together, you know, in terms of how do they walk, how do they speak, what is the how, how do they speak English with a Na'vi accent? All these things. Like, and I was, like, I was 27 and, and working with my. My childhood dream of a director, the Sarah Connor creator. And, and he was. He. He was allowing me to collaborate with. With bringing the not V to. To life. So I was working with Cirque du Soleil performers and dialect people and stunt people. Like, how do they fight? How do they move that tale? It's kind of like an extra limb. It felt like going to school or being in a laboratory and conceiving a brand new organ.

[Jason Bateman]

Like, I didn't expect to feel is what I meant to say. I didn't expect to feel as much as I felt. I didn't expect to get emotional. And you did it, so it's such a feat. By the way, sidebar. Combined, your sci fi films have earned over $4 billion at the box office. Just.

[Will Arnett]

Oh, my God.

[Sean Hayes]

Billion.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah. Isn't that amazing? Yeah. You're the only actor in history to have starred in four films that have grossed over 2 billion. $2 billion individually. Can you even rent.

[Sean Hayes]

Wait, wrap your head around. What did you say?

[Jason Bateman]

She's the only actor in history to have starred in four films that have grossed over $2 billion individually.

[Will Arnett]

Wow.

[Sean Hayes]

Jesus.

[Zoe Saldana]

Yeah, I like. I like that you say star. That's, That's. That's really. That's really nice. For half. For half of those projects, I was a part of them. But. But I know I do. I feel. I feel fortunate to know that I've been a part of great projects that appeal to massive audiences. It gives me. Gives me a sensation of like, of connection, like I'm connecting with human beings that even though I will never, ever meet them, I'm connected to them, to them somehow through the stories that impact them, that impact me by being a part of, you know, and, you know, I've always said this. It's not bad for, you know, a little brown girl from Queens. I feel excited.

[Jason Bateman]

We'll be right back. Everybody is unique, and everyone sleeps differently. That's why Helix has several different mattress models to choose from, each designed for specific sleep positions and feel preferences. As you know, I have the Dusk Lux, and I've had it for several years, and it's really, really great. And I have, like, kind of an overactive brain, as you can imagine. And the second I get up to pee in the middle of the night. I usually have a hard time falling back asleep, but right when I get into the bed and right when I get on top of the Helix mattress, there's something about the coziness that distracts my brain from overthinking. And it actually works. Like the comfort of it makes me kind of like ease into it and kind of melt into the mattress. I know it sounds silly, but try it. It's really, really comfortable. This month you can get 25% off sitewide plus two free dream pillows with any mattress purchased. And on top of that you can get a free bedding bundle which includes two dream pillows, sheet set and mattress protector with any luxe or elite mattress order, visit helixsleep.com smartless you already love DoorDash and now there's even more to love with the new DoorDash Dash Pass annual plan benefit. Here it is. Drumroll please. Max with ads is now included at no extra cost. That means you can have, say, a sloppy Joe dinner delivered with DoorDash and stream Emmy winning comedy series like the Max original hacks, plus what goes better with the HBO original series House of the Dragon than a fiery dragon roll from your favorite sushi spot. And if you're rewatching Friends, don't be surprised if those coffee shop scenes make you crave having a latte delivered stat. Of course, you still get all of your favorite DashPass annual plan benefits too like unlimited $0 delivery fees on eligible orders and exclusive members only offers and menu items. Sign up for DashPass annual plan and get Max included at no extra cost. It's your door to more terms and conditions apply. Max is now included with your Dash Pass Annual Plan. Stream Max with ads up to a $120 value included at no extra cost. Terms apply. See doordash.com max for details. Sick and tired of traditional old workout gear? Discover Viori Viori products are designed to work out in but also to look great in everyday life outside of the gym. Viori makes super comfy and versatile apparel that can be used for running, training, swimming, yoga or just lounging around. For both men's and women's items you'll love, you need to check out the Dream Knit Collection. The dual gender Dream Knit Collection is great for stretching and lounging and has the perfect items to wear for low impact workouts. The Dream Knit Collection is made with special Dream Knit fabric which is moisture wicking, made from 89% recycled materials and has four way performance stretch. The Ponto Performance Jogger is a great Jogger for men, while women will love the performance. Jogger. I know people say this, but I actually really am wearing Viori shorts right now. I have the Ponto short in heather gray, and not only do I feel confident if somebody knocks on the door and deliver something to open, I'm like, yeah, I'm wearing Viori. What's it? What's with it? Yeah, I'm in shorts. What's the problem? Viori is an investment in your happiness for our listeners. They're offering 20% off your first purchase. Plus enjoy free shipping on any US orders over $75 and free returns. Get yourself some of the most comfortable and versatile clothing on the [e-mail] smartless that's V U O R I.com smartless exclusions apply. Visit the website for full terms and conditions. And now back to the show.

[Sean Hayes]

Was there any other thing that you ever contemplated doing when you were a little girl?

[Zoe Saldana]

I love animals and children, so there's.

[Jason Bateman]

Two groups I love to work with.

[Zoe Saldana]

I think I would have gone into some form of, like, psychology for with and working with children. There's something about just understanding children and really looking at them for who they are and not overestimating them or underestimating them. That, that is, you know, it's. It's always. It will always be. My goal is to sort of go, oh, my God, where are you? Who are you? What are you? And how can I reach you? You know, it doesn't mean I'm the best mom, but I wake up every day and that's like, that's the only role that I want to pursue every day.

[Sean Hayes]

How old are you guys?

[Zoe Saldana]

They're going, they're nine. Nine and seven.

[Sean Hayes]

Wow.

[Will Arnett]

Okay. Nine, nine and seven. So now that you're a parent, is there anything that you recognize as being a very sort of American way of parenting as opposed to how you were raised and what you experienced?

[Zoe Saldana]

Oh, God. I love the American way of parenting when it's, you know, in the sense of there's this curiosity to always evolve and figure out better ways of communication with children. I love that. Yeah, that's good. And this quest to verbally just create freedom where children can communicate their emotions and their feelings early and earlier. I love that about American ways of parenting and the Latino ways of parenting, I love. Because it's all heart. It's very much heart. The child is allowed to be dramatic and excessively dramatic. Like, it's just. How does that, you know, we talk about death, we normalize death, and we don't sterilize it. It's passion. There's a lot of passion and fire in the way that we raise children, Latinos, but things that I can live without is this. You respect your superiors. You don't question things. You just. I love that. My kids question everything.

[Sean Hayes]

What's the Italian way to raise.

[Zoe Saldana]

Oh, my God. It's just gelato. Every day. Yeah, gelato every day.

[Jason Bateman]

And.

[Zoe Saldana]

And, you know, it's a culture that's very. You know, it's very. I mean, Latinos and Italians are very similar. They're just affectionate. The fathers are very affectionate with their children, and I love that.

[Will Arnett]

Do you spend a lot of time over there in Europe with your kids, you guys?

[Zoe Saldana]

We do. We do.

[Jason Bateman]

You do. And. And Marco, I think it's so cool. Marco's your husband? Marco took your last name?

[Zoe Saldana]

He did.

[Sean Hayes]

Come on.

[Jason Bateman]

That's so cool.

[Sean Hayes]

Wait, walk me through that conversation that came from him.

[Zoe Saldana]

We get married. I had no intentions of changing my name, but we never discussed it. It was just. I just had it there. I'm like, in case the conversation comes up, I'm going to let him down slowly. That I'm going to remain Zoe Saldana. And maybe throughout the years, if we earn it, then maybe I can take a Perego somewhere.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Zoe Saldana]

And he was. Immediately, he's like, I'm gonna be Marco Perego Saldana.

[Jason Bateman]

Wow.

[Zoe Saldana]

Are you sure? You should probably just do it, you know, in our personal lives, but keep your professional name, you know, as who you are. Society sometimes doesn't really understand. He goes, I don't give a shit.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah.

[Zoe Saldana]

Like, I'm proud of your name. I love your father's name, you know?

[Will Arnett]

What was the impetus for that, though, for him, do you think?

[Zoe Saldana]

For him, it was. I mean, I get emotional. My father died when I was nine, and I've never. I mean, I have a wonderful stepdad that's been in our lives since I was 13, and he's my dad, you know, but my biological father, that bond, that connection to your blood was lost abruptly lost very early on. So it's not something you ever heal from. It's just you learn to manage that pain of loss.

[Jason Bateman]

Right, right, right.

[Zoe Saldana]

And when we. When we fell in love and we got married, he knows how strong of a presence my father still is in my life. Because as Latinos, we keep. We live with our dead. We live with them. We actively talk about them as if they're here, you know?

[Jason Bateman]

Did your family or your mom, like, back then, like, suggest therapy, like For a young, young child like yourself to go through such.

[Zoe Saldana]

We did it. Yeah.

[Jason Bateman]

Horrible things. Or did they. Or did you get through it as a family and was like, no, we don't believe in that. We're going to get through this together.

[Zoe Saldana]

No, no, no. It was a combination of both because we were still, you know, we were still living in the States when he passed away and you know, when. Back in the 80s, public schools in New York were incredible. They were just incredible. So immediately as soon as we came back from the funeral, they bombarded us with just love and support. And for my mom as well, they, you know, they, my mom had places to go to and sort of cope with this and gain new tools on how to be like this single parent moving forward.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Zoe Saldana]

And then when we went back to Dominican Republic, then, that was when we moved there then to live, then it was very much like, no, we stick together. God will always find his way. So that had his. That had its good things and also bad things, you know. And my mom did feel very isolated times when it came to just trying to talk to a professional. But the love and support was always abundant in our family, you know.

[Jason Bateman]

Oh, that's great. That's great. And wait, if you don't mind. How did you meet your husband? I think he didn't. He hit on you on the plane once or something and then you turn him down on the plane. How did he find you after the.

[Zoe Saldana]

He just, he's very Italian and I, you know, I'm, I love the Italian culture, but I'm also like, I'm keeping it at bay, you know what I mean? Like, it's very, it's a very romantic and seductive culture. So he meets you and he's this like pirate looking. Probably the most handsomest man I'll ever meet in my life. And I met him on a plane, but we knew each other, we knew of each other through mutual friends and it was always like, oh, there's that guy. There's that really handsome hot motherfucking guy that I should always stay away from because he looks at you and he just has that suave look and everything. And when he talks to you, he had that little bitch, you know, they kind of hide their real manly voice. And I'm like, why are you such a high pitch voice when you talk to me? And I'm a New Yorker, I'm very much like, come on, man, talk to me. But he's gentle. My husband is a very gentle man.

[Jason Bateman]

That's so great. And you teach Your kids Spanish and Italian at home.

[Zoe Saldana]

I mean, we don't necessarily teach it. We just. They catch up on it. That's how we. We slip in and out of all these languages.

[Jason Bateman]

That's so cool.

[Zoe Saldana]

And it's funny because I grew up as, like, a daughter of immigrants, where you live a double life. You feel like you're like double zero seven. Where in your house, you're like, hola.

[Jason Bateman]

Hola.

[Zoe Saldana]

And you're very Latina. And the moment you step out, you kind of go, adios.

[Sean Hayes]

Hey, what's up?

[Jason Bateman]

How you doing?

[Zoe Saldana]

Like, you learned to code switch, right? And because they're so hard on you, like, you don't forget your culture. You don't forget where you come from, and it was very much like that. And I appreciate that today. So. And then I marry an immigrant who's very much about, I'm Italian, Italian forever. We're Italians. And so when the boys were little, they spoke only Italian and Spanish. But as soon as they start going to school and I start dialoguing with them, I go into what feels very.

[Jason Bateman]

You know, and they pick up on it.

[Zoe Saldana]

And we became very English oriented in the way that we bond. And then that's when my husband's family, because our folks live here in the States, and. And my parents also live in California, they were just like, you need to talk to them. And I had to kind of have an intervention. I'm like, y'all need to chill.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Zoe Saldana]

You guys all chose to come here. We're all here. They are American as well as they are this and this. So share. Like, we're gonna. I'm gonna allow you guys to share who we are inherently, but they don't force them.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah.

[Zoe Saldana]

Because we're. We're eating in Italian and Spanish. We are dancing, and we are communicating it. That's already enough. It's. It's going to be there. But don't force it to them, because then they're going to reject it. Like, I tried to reject it when I was little, and they kind of like, it was a nice intervention because even my husband had to sit him down. I'm like, you need to, like, you know, just lay off the gas a little bit.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah.

[Zoe Saldana]

And now they understand it fluently. They'll speak it with their grandparents, but with me, they speak mainly English. I do speak to them in Spanish a lot when we're in public, when I don't want people to know what I'm saying.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Zoe Saldana]

And then my husband does the same.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah.

[Jason Bateman]

So wait, I wanna get back to career stuff because I'm obviously a massive fan. That's why you're here.

[Zoe Saldana]

Shoot. I love it.

[Jason Bateman]

But Lioness, who's season two? We'll talk about that in a second. Amelia Perez. We're gonna watch tonight, center stage. I loved. I know. It was 2000, so long ago, and I loved that movie. And then after that, you did Crossroads with Britney Spears. At such a young age, when Britney was huge, were you like, oh, my God, I'm in a movie with Britney Spears? I mean, what year was that? That was like 2007.

[Zoe Saldana]

We started shooting right after. No, pardon me. We started shooting early 2000. One.

[Jason Bateman]

One. Okay.

[Zoe Saldana]

It was before nine. Eleven.

[Jason Bateman]

I remember that because you auditioned a lot when you came back from the Dominican Republic and you were still so young. When you're auditioning, do you have any crazy audition stories?

[Sean Hayes]

Did you have to do one for the Britney Spears thing? Did you have to read with her?

[Zoe Saldana]

I did, yes. I auditioned. I mean, I auditioned for Amelia Perez too. So it's. I mean, it was. But it's more like an interview. Like you just do a conversation. I audition a lot. I remember I auditioned for a film that you were doing Jason, years ago.

[Sean Hayes]

I had nothing to do with it.

[Zoe Saldana]

No, no, it's okay. What was the one that you did about the funeral?

[Sean Hayes]

Oh, this is where I leave you.

[Zoe Saldana]

Yes, yes. But I bombed. I was so bad. I was so bad at that audition.

[Sean Hayes]

Isn't it terrible? Right? You can practice as much as you want at home, and then you get in that room and the nerves take over. And your inability to do what you planned on is just.

[Zoe Saldana]

It's awesome. I hated that process. I really did because it really fed into my anxiety.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah.

[Zoe Saldana]

In a way that wasn't healthy. I just, you know, competition and. And, you know, fighting for. For to prove who you are is. Is so hard. I do remember that if it wasn't for just warm people. Amazing casting directors, like, New York has amazing casting directors that were just human beings. You know, they were nice and gentle and. And I loved walking in and feeling like they were rooting for me. Whenever I put. I would put myself on tape because, remember, it was like, you have to put yourself on tape when you live in New York. That's what you gotta do. And if it wasn't for the fact that people were nice, I would have never booked parts. It's when people are super cold and they were so despondent and I would tank.

[Sean Hayes]

Freeze up.

[Jason Bateman]

It doesn't help. It doesn't help. And then you did, by the way. I mean, we could spend two hours. Pirates of the Caribbean, the Terminal with Tom Hanks, Star Trek, Marvel with Guardians of the Galaxy. But I have to say, my husband Scotty, he's a massive, massive, massive Star Trek fan. I'm more of a Star Wars. But because of your films.

[Sean Hayes]

It's the only thing they fight about.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, but because of your films and JJ and everybody involved, I was blown away by you and those films. They're so well made and completely gripping and suck you in in the best way.

[Sean Hayes]

There should be another one due soon, right? Another Star, Star. Star Trek movie.

[Zoe Saldana]

They're talking about it and I, it would be nice, it would be nice for us to, to come back and sort of do a proper send off to the Next Generation. Look, I don't. Honestly, I wish I had like a formula. I feel like the only thing that I, that I, that I kept doing was saying yes.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, well, that's interesting.

[Zoe Saldana]

You know, was just like, if I was shooting Avatar and all of a sudden my agents at the time were calling me and was like, well, J.J. abrams really wants to meet you for Uhura. He's gonna shoot this next Star Trek. I was like, who? What? I wasn't a Star Trek fan. My mom was. And I was like, you had me at jj. I know. And I'm like, but I'm working. And he's like, well, I think he's gonna come to set. I think I'm like, oh, okay. Cause I would go to the set of Avatar and every day he's like, oh, there's Robert Zemeckis or Steven, there's George Lucas. There's, you know, they were always there and, and Jim was giving him the whole walkthrough. So it was very normal for us to see these amazing filmmakers. And one, you know, Jim walks on, walks, walks to set one day, goes, I have a surprise for you and I think you're gonna owe me for this one. And I was like, what is he talking about? And JJ was there and JJ was like, hi, Zoe. And Jim, like, lets him, you know, touch the camera. And he did the whole tour. And then JJ's like, well, are you. I definitely want to meet you for Hoorah for Star Trek. And then, you know, JJ left and Jim just comes over and goes, you're welcome. And I'm like, for what? I wasn't really tapping into. And then I get the call like, can you please play a whore? I was like, abso fucking lutely.

[Jason Bateman]

Are you kidding me? Let me think about it. Yeah.

[Zoe Saldana]

Yes. And then after that, it was just. And then after that, James Gunn comes over and years later and goes, can you play gamut? I'm like, okay, yeah, of course. And I said yes, because I wanted to experience prosthetics.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, yeah.

[Zoe Saldana]

Makeup. Like waking up at 3:00 in the morning and going through the whole nutty professor transformation. Like, yeah. I was like, I want to do that. And then a month in, I was like, I hate this.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Two, three hours, sitting in the chair, not doing anything, eating through a straw. Yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

What about the series, Star Trek series, where those. Those people have to be on that every single day for every day, nine, ten months, a year.

[Zoe Saldana]

I wouldn't be able to do it.

[Jason Bateman]

It never doesn't make me laugh, though, the idea of a. Of a guy. Of an actor in a Klingon. All the Klingon makeup walking through craft service, that always will make me laugh. Just like getting fried chicken and, like.

[Sean Hayes]

You know, eating everything to put it in a blender right through a straw.

[Zoe Saldana]

Napkin, like, collar napkin. Always did not get makeup on their outfits.

[Jason Bateman]

Wait, so. So all of the travels and all the places you've worked in the world, I want to ask where you would choose to live if you had to pick a place either fictional or nonfictional.

[Zoe Saldana]

Paris.

[Jason Bateman]

Oh, really?

[Zoe Saldana]

Yes.

[Jason Bateman]

You love Paris?

[Zoe Saldana]

I love Paris.

[Jason Bateman]

Why?

[Zoe Saldana]

I love art. I love the fact that people are always outside. I love to walk. As a New Yorker, I live to walk. Walked down streets of ancient, ancient, you know, history. And I love eating and drinking wine. So it's just. It's really romantic and there's something really nice about Paris. But also, like, when you go to Italy, because my second favorite place, Italy. And then it's the Caribbean, because I'm from the Caribbean. I love a beach. I love the water. But there's just something very free about Europe that in the summers, you see people in love, living in love in public. The universal, you know, and you'll see these younger couples, like, on the Vespa, making out while you're like, you know, taking your kid for a walk. But then the same couple, you come back and they're in the same Vespa, and she's slapping the crap out of him, and then all of a sudden, he grabs her and shakes her and he kisses her, and you're like, that's so romantic and dramatic.

[Jason Bateman]

Yes. Jason and I are going to do that later tonight.

[Sean Hayes]

Which one do you want to be? You want to Be shaken or the shaker?

[Zoe Saldana]

Both.

[Jason Bateman]

Both. Well, listen, I could talk to you for 19 hours. We've taken up way too much of your time.

[Zoe Saldana]

Me, too. You guys, thank you for this conversation. I've enjoyed.

[Jason Bateman]

Thank you so much. I can't wait to see the movie. And Lioness. We didn't even talk about Linus. But Nicole, you and Nicole Kidman love the show. It's second. Of course, you're getting a second season, so I can't wait. But thank you for being here. Gigantic fan.

[Zoe Saldana]

Yeah, thank you guys very much. Thank you for this conversation. Anytime. I'll come back.

[Jason Bateman]

Okay.

[Will Arnett]

Thank you so much.

[Jason Bateman]

Love you.

[Sean Hayes]

All right. Enjoy the rest of your day.

[Zoe Saldana]

Bye. You, too. Bye.

[Jason Bateman]

Sweet.

[Sean Hayes]

Oh, Shawnee.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, I love her. I want to talk to her forever. And she's like, you know, how many people can say. I know. We already said in the show.

[Will Arnett]

The biggest.

[Jason Bateman]

I mean, the three. There's no other. There's no other actor that was in the top three movies of all time. No, there's no other actor. Isn't that wild?

[Will Arnett]

Yeah, it's very wild.

[Sean Hayes]

I mean, stunning accomplishment.

[Will Arnett]

What, you know what I was thinking about during it is that she's been in all those big. Right. And then on the other end, I was in Brother Solomon. And if you think about the gap.

[Sean Hayes]

Between a lot of daylight in between.

[Will Arnett]

There's a lot, lot of daylight. It's all daylight, let's be honest.

[Jason Bateman]

But I didn't even get to the terminal. Remember, she was in the terminal with Tom Hanks.

[Will Arnett]

Terminal. Yes.

[Jason Bateman]

Anyway, she was great.

[Will Arnett]

Yeah.

[Jason Bateman]

I really like her a lot, and I want to hang out with her.

[Will Arnett]

Sure. Anyway, and to your point, Sean, I mean, it's such an accomplishment, you know, to my point. Well, welcome in.

[Jason Bateman]

Vel. Maybe they mean Vel.

[Will Arnett]

By the way, if they were German, then I. Then I'm going to take it.

[Sean Hayes]

Obviously, they close of the candles.

[Will Arnett]

Okay. You know what I mean?

[Jason Bateman]

Anyway, she's wonderful.

[Will Arnett]

She's amazing. She's amazing.

[Jason Bateman]

She's one of a kind.

[Will Arnett]

She is one of a kind. She's so rare. I would dare to say, do it.

[Sean Hayes]

Be brave.

[Will Arnett]

You can feel it. This is where it's embarrassing. Where you can feel it is that she's so. You know, people who have been in so many huge films like that, they're not every day. In fact, they're pretty hard to come by. Smartless is 100% organic and artisanally handcrafted by Rob Armjar from Bennett Barbico and Michael Grantieri. Smart, Less.

[Jason Bateman]

Sylvania's lighting experts want you to know Just like tires and brakes wear out, headlights dim over time and can lose up to 50ft of visibility before burnout. That's roughly the length of a tractor trailer, so it's important to change them before they burn out. Sylvania engineers headlights with a design that delivers a brighter, wider light where you need it most to improve your visibility on the road and to help reduce glare distraction. Learn [e-mail].

[Zoe Saldana]

What'S your boldest, truly ambitious life goal? Everyone has one, and everyone deserves a way to get there. That's why State street offers a wide variety of ETFs to give all investors access to the market and the channel to reach their goals. Like with DIA, where you get 30 US blue chip stocks in a single trade. Wherever you're heading, getting there starts here with State Street.

[Jason Bateman]

Before investing, consider the fund's investment objectives.

[Will Arnett]

Risks, charges and expenses. Visit SSGA.com for perspectives containing this and other information. Read it carefully.

[Jason Bateman]

DIA Subject to risks Similar to those.

[Zoe Saldana]

Of stocks all ats are subject to.

[Jason Bateman]

Risk, including possible loss of principal. Alps Distributors Inc.

[Will Arnett]

Distributor.