Zoe Saldana didn’t hold back about her rough time filming Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and how working with Steven Spielberg turned everything around for her. During a chat at the 2024 BFI London Film Festival, Zoe reflected on her early struggles in the industry and the big lessons she learned along the way.
Saldana, who played Anamaria in the 2003 Disney blockbuster, described her time on the set as nothing short of a “really bad experience.” At the time, she was just starting out, freshly armed with her Screen Actors Guild (SAG) card and trying to navigate the huge scale of the production. The massive cast and crew were overwhelming for a newbie, and Zoe found herself sticking close to the camera department, asking a million questions to get the hang of how things worked behind the scenes.
Despite all that hands-on learning, the vibe on set was anything but welcoming. While she loved most of the cast and crew, Saldana said the higher-ups—like the studio execs, producers, and the director—seemed to lack basic kindness and consideration. This cold leadership made the whole experience tough and left her disillusioned with the big-budget film world.
But things took an unexpected turn just eight months later when she landed a role in The Terminal, working with none other than Steven Spielberg. In the 2004 film, Saldana played U.S. Customs officer Dolores Torres, and she had nothing but praise for Spielberg’s approach to filmmaking. His kindness, attention to detail, and the warm environment he created on set restored Zoe’s faith in the possibility that big films could be a positive experience.
Fast forward, and Saldana’s career skyrocketed with major roles in blockbuster franchises like Avatar and Guardians of the Galaxy. That moment working with Spielberg became a turning point in her career, helping her figure out the kind of people she wanted to work with moving forward.
Saldana’s story is a reminder of how important it is to have supportive leadership on set, especially when the stakes are high. Her rough time on Pirates of the Caribbean was a sharp contrast to the more uplifting experience she had with Spielberg, who helped her see that it was possible to thrive in big productions while keeping things kind and respectful.