Zoe Saldaña (47) Reveals the One Risk She Will Never Take for Any Movie Role

Zoe Saldaña has spent years proving she is willing to endure almost anything for a role, except for the deprivation of a good meal. While her contemporaries might spend hours in a makeup chair or dangle from the side of a moving aircraft, Saldaña is famously firm about her refusal to drastically alter her weight for the screen.

Whether it involves sitting through a grueling four-hour transformation to become the green-skinned Gamora or navigating the bioluminescent jungles of Pandora, she maintains that her physical health and her love for food are non-negotiable.

The actress, who has consistently fluctuated between being the first or second highest-grossing actor in cinematic history, recently reflected on the physical demands of her profession. She acknowledged the immense commitment of co-stars like Chris Pratt, who famously shed 60 pounds to transition from a comedic television role to a svelte interplanetary hero.

While she expressed admiration for his “spiritual” journey, she made it clear that such a transformation is simply not for her. “I don’t like to f**k with my body like that,” she told Digital Spy, adding that she knows she doesn’t have the internal drive to starve herself or overeat.

Saldaña’s stance stands in stark contrast to some of the most famous examples of method acting in Hollywood, such as Christian Bale’s extreme weight loss for The Machinist.

She admitted to being in awe of performers like Bale and Jared Leto who can fluctuate so dramatically and still return to their original selves once the cameras stop rolling. However, she remains skeptical that her own body would be as resilient, and she isn’t willing to find out.

“I really admire actors like Bale and Jared Leto who go up and down, but they’re gifted… I don’t think that would happen to me. I love Shake Shack too much, as well!” she joked. As of this year, Saldaña’s box office dominance reached a historic milestone as she officially surpassed Scarlett Johansson to become the highest-grossing actor of all time.

This achievement was fueled by the massive success of Avatar: Fire and Ash, which premiered in December 2025 and has already crossed the $1.4 billion mark. While she opted not to return for the crossover event Avengers: Doomsday, her presence in the world’s biggest franchises has cemented her status as the most bankable star in the industry.

Currently, the actress is enjoying a highly productive period that spans both television and film. She recently wrapped production on the third season of Taylor Sheridan’s spy thriller Special Ops: Lioness, which is expected to return to Paramount+ by the end of the year.

On the big screen, she is preparing to film the Netflix romantic caper Positano in Italy this May, starring opposite Matthew McConaughey. This project marks their first collaboration and is a departure from the blockbuster science fiction that has occupied much of her recent career.

Aside from her upcoming work on Avatar 4, which is currently slated for a 2029 release, Saldaña has been receiving significant praise for her role in the musical drama Emilia Pérez. The film, which also stars Selena Gomez, enjoyed a successful run through the 2025 awards season and continues to be highlighted as one of her most versatile performances.

As she moves into these new creative chapters, it is clear that she is prioritizing projects that allow her to explore complex characters without sacrificing her well-being—or her favorite burgers.

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