Maybe people just weren't paying attention to Zoe Saldana a decade or so ago when she started popping up in guest spots on TV shows ("Law & Order") or in small movie parts (the first "Pirates of the Caribbean," "The Terminal"). It took her turning (digitally) blue in "Avatar" and then going green in "Guardians of the Galaxy" to really put her on the map. But it wasn't until her first appearance as Uhura in "Star Trek" (without any special makeup) that she actually started getting recognized. Now, along with the rest of the Enterprise crew, she's making her third appearance as the ship's communications officer in "Star Trek Beyond." Saldana spoke about the film, her character, and the apparently rocky romantic relationship between Uhura and Spock, last week in Los Angeles.
Q: Uhura seems like she's got a lot on her mind in the new film. What's going on with her?
A: She's tired. I think she's homesick, and I felt that the one thing I appreciated most about what (co-writers) Simon Pegg and Doug Jung did for this installment was they made us human, and homesick and sad, and how being overly worked and being away from home and all the things that keep you grounded can put a strain not just on the intimate relationships you may have, but also the professional ones.
Q: Right. Just about everyone in the crew is a bit out of sorts after so much time in space.
A: I thought I would never see the day where I would walk onto the Enterprise and, though we weren't rolling our eyes at each other, we weren't that excited to see each other. I thought this was a great place to start (the story) because I can only imagine where we're going to end up. Then we literally end up in the opposite direction -- we're dying to see each other, to be close to each other, and to get back together. I thought that was brilliant.
Q: It's done in a subtle way, very early in the film, but after establishing yourselves as an item in the previous film, you and Spock have a quiet, on-camera breakup. What are your thoughts on that?
A: I think the breakup is amazing because she fell in love with her teacher. He came as this figure that represented responsibility and safety and maturity and wisdom. If I choose to see it this way, there's a parallel universe situation going on between Uhura and women these days, that there's no longer this animosity or resentment to sort of prove who you are. You just want to be left alone to find out who you are, because you're interested and curious. I like this autonomy that's happening with women right now.
Q: So you see what's happening to Uhura, and the changes she's going through, as mirroring what's going on with women in the real world?
A: Women are becoming very, very independent, not just in the work force but also in their personal lives. There's just something about realizing that you should WANT to be a part of something. You don't necessarily HAVE to be a part of something in order for you to be validated or respected or appreciated or considered strong enough.
Q: There are scenes in the film where everyone is in familiar territory, on the ship's bridge, and there are many more scenes where the story takes you all down to the surface of a hostile planet. Did you have a preference between the two?
A: I like being on the ship (laughs). When we were on the ground, ugh, there was dust everywhere, and helicopters flying really low. I don't know. I just like being on the Enterprise. It's cleaner.
-- Ed Symkus covers movies for More Content Now.
