The Avatar star recently divulged to InStyle that she almost walked away from acting in 2003, after a small role in Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl left a sour taste in her mouth regarding Hollywood’s practices altogether. “‘Pirates’ was just too big of a production,” the 44-year-old remembered. “I just felt lost and not considered properly and overlooked. I remember thinking, ‘If this is Hollywood, then I hate it. I don’t want it. Take it, keep it.’” It was wise words from famed filmmaker Steven Spielberg, who directed her in 2004’s The Terminal, that changed Saldaña’s frame of mind. The director advised her to be more intentional about the projects she pursued, and that guidance led her to choose sci-fi movies like Guardians of the Galaxy, Star Trek and, of course, Avatar. She first stepped into her life-changing role of Avatar’s Neytiri in 2009, though, admittedly, she couldn’t have predicted the immense success the film would see. “I had no idea Avatar was going to have the impact that it did on such a global scale,” she said. “Those things are unimaginable.” Thirteen years after entering the franchise, the actress reflects on choosing work with her “head” and her “heart.” “I join projects because I believe in the people behind them. When they’re magical and thoughtful, thought-provoking, and collaborative, that’s what changes my life for the better,” she explained. “It gives me experiences that raise me, that help me grow, that make me feel good about people.” Avatar: The Way of Water releases in theaters Dec. 16, 2022.
