Actress Zoe Saldana has told that there is “fear” and “doubt” in the industry amid strikes, and she is worried about actors who need to work “for their families, and have to pay their mortgages”.
The Hollywood star, who is best known for portraying ‘Neytiri in Avatar’, ‘Gamora in Guardians of the Galaxy’, and ‘Uhura in Star Trek’, and is soon to appear in the new spy thriller series ‘Special Ops: Lioness’, spoke to the podcast at the Backstage the day before the walk-out was confirmed.
According to reports, the premiere for the show was canceled due to industrial action, after their interview.
Saldana said that she doesn’t believe that organizations would be striking at the end of the day if they felt that there was fairness in the game of the business that they’re in.
She further added:
“I hope that everybody comes together and reaches resolutions that seem fair for all parties involved because at the end of the day, 80% of the members of our union live day-to-day, live pay-cheque to pay-cheque, and they can’t really afford to sustain a strike… so that’s where my heart is”.
Actress Zoe Saldana
Hollywood actors have been on strike since 13 July after talks with studios broke down over higher pay and safeguards against unauthorized use of their images through artificial intelligence (AI).
The strike is likely to have far-reaching reverberations beyond Los Angeles as production has shut down on a number of films and TV shows which was organized by the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA).
About 160,000 SAG- AFTRA members have stopped work, while 15,000 screenwriters, who are members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA), have also been on strike since 2 May.
Since the SAG-AFTRA strike officially began, numerous famous faces have been spotted on picket lines, including Jason Sudeikis, Susan Sarandon, and Mandy Moore.
Strikes could get very unpleasant
Succession star Brian Cox is also among those speaking out, telling that the strike could get “very unpleasant” and may not be resolved until the end of the year.
Cox told:
“It’s a situation that could get very, very unpleasant. It could go on for quite some time. They’ll take us to the brink and we’ll probably have to go to the brink.
“So it may not be solved… until towards the end of the year”.
Brian Cox
Although Saldana is in a position that doesn’t leave her financially struggling during strike action, she said it was important to show solidarity.
Adding that she is hoping for a swift resolution, she said:
“It doesn’t mean that I should not be an active member of my organization”.
Zoe Saldana
From ‘Avatar’ to the ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’, Saldana has been linked to some of the largest film franchises in the world over the past decade.
Created by Taylor Sheridan, the filmmaker behind Yellowstone and 1923, ‘Special Ops: Lioness’ centers on an elite military unit of female operatives who go undercover to befriend the wives and girlfriends of targets in the war on terror.
Saldana says she initially turned down the role of lead recruiter Joe – a decision based on “fear and insecurity”.
Saldana added:
“I mean, fear can be paralyzing, and for like a year I did feel paralyzed. And, you know, English is not my first language. I’m not a trained actor.
“I love science fiction, but I felt like I had gotten lost in all of these franchises and there was still this undying desire to continue to grow as an artist and push myself further. And so being a part of Lioness was a testament to that”.
Zoe Saldana
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