Born Zoe Yadira Zaldana Nazario on June 19, 1978 in New Jersey to a Dominican father and a Puerto Rican mother, Zoe Saldana and her family soon settled in Queens, New York where she was raised. When Zoe was nine, her father died in a car accident, and her mother moved with Zoe and her sisters (Mariel and Cisely) to the Dominican Republic – where the family stayed for 7 years.

While in the Dominican Republic, Zoe enlisted in a ballet class at one of the most prestigious dancing schools in the country, ECOS Espacio de Danza Dance Academy, where she learned ballet as well as other dance forms. Not only did her training provide an excellent outlet for the enthusiastic and energetic youngster, it would also prove to be a fortunate precursor for the start of her professional acting career.

At age 17 Zoe and her family moved back to the United States where her love for dance followed and an interest in theater performance became stronger. She began performing with the Faces theater troupe which put on plays geared to provide positive messages for teens with themes dealing with issues such as substance abuse and sex. These performances not only gave her valuable experience but also a source of great pride knowing that she was making a difference in the lives of young people like herself. While performing with the Faces troupe and also the New York Youth Theater, Zoe was recruited for a talent agency and her dance training years before coupled with her acting experience greatly helped her land her first big screen role as Eva, the talented and headstrong ballet dancer in the film “Center Stage”.

Since her professional career began, Zoe’s talent and determination has allowed her to be involved in blockbuster films and act with major actors, actresses and industry insiders at a pace that very few young professionals have experienced. Zoe has not only held her own in major motion picture productions but gained the respect and praise from industry insiders such as Jerry Bruckheimer and Steven Spielberg and actors/actresses such as Tom Hanks, Bernie Mac, Keira Knightley, Ashton Kutcher, Kirsten Dunst, and Orlando Bloom. According to many of her costars, producers, and directors the sky is no limit for this young star who has incredible range, intense concentration, and a steely determination to be involved with projects that challenge her professionally with wide ranging subject matters and characters. Just to ask practically anyone who she has worked for or with about her, glowing comments abound and earned friendships and respect are readily revealed. A star has been born, and growing every day.

Written with the help of the IMDB and Wikipedia