In Spanish Interview with IMPRE, Actress Zoe Saldaña Defends COLOMBIANA

Aug 26, 2011
12:53 PM

The following article, written in Spanish and originally published by IMPRE Media in Spanish, has been translated into English by Latino Rebels for our readers. This article appeared today, a few days before COLOMBIANA star Zoe Saldaña made comments about the "ignorance" of the Por Colombia #ColombiaIsBeautiful campaign against the movie, which opened today in theaters.

 

LOS ANGELES – In her latest role, Zoe Saldana is a killer, one you cannot hate.

"I think she is a women with a lot on ingenuity," said the 33-year-old actress of Dominican and Puerto Rican origin.

Although in reality nothing justifies the revenge in the movie "Colombiana," which opens today, Saldana's character is so involved in the action, she could be seen as a paid bloodthirsty assasin.

The film, produced and co-written by Luc Besson ("The Fifth Element") and directed by Olivier Megaton ("Transporter 3"), is about a girl who witnesses the murder of her parents in Colombia.

Saldana plays that girl, "Catalaya," who becomes an assassin ready to kill.
In an interview, the actress talks about her character and the protests against the film that has been raised before it was released.

Zoe Saldana, simple, friendly, pleasant and without false glamour, said that it was the story that interested her, coming from a great director (although he was the producer in this case), such as Besson, for whom she feels a great affinity.

"But also because I do not know when was the last time there was a Latina woman as a protagonist in an action movie," she says.

Saldana is a determined woman of strong character, who is very focused on what she does and says.

"Now I choose roles that challenge me," he says. "Roles that impact people." 

In this case, the role of Catalaya challenged her. Because she had to train a lot, especially for the fight scenes and weapons. That image of a strong, intelligent, and cunning protagonist appealed to her as an actress.

"I do not want to be the woman who needs to be rescued all the time, but I won't reject those kinds of roles, but if so, they will have to be strong and do something different."

Saldaña said that ten years of industry experience told her to be more careful in her character choices.

"I'm more selective, the characters must match my taste, then I think what I would like to see as a movie lover and foremost, they should speak to my dignity as a woman."

Colombiana has aroused the anger of some Colombian associations Colombians living in this country for the alleged bad images that this movie depicts. However Saldaña explained that the opposite is true.

"I will never tire to clarify that nothing in this movie is affecting that country," he says. "I think [those who criticize] should see [first] movie to see the purpose of Luc Besson."

"His intention was to make a film of another heroine [of which he has many] who was Latina. He chose Colombia because it is a country that loves its culture, and he has been there several times. I believe that Colombian women Colombia are very strong as well as very beautiful. It could have been another country. "