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In an interview with ComicBook to promote the release of Avatar: Fire and Ash, Saldaña admitted that saying goodbye to Neytiri would be harder than Gamora. “I think because she was the first, and there is a connection that we have with our first times and our first ones,” she said. “Not to say that you can’t choose favorites, but everything that Neytiri has taught me and has given me is so magical and special. I feel like Neytiri was the beginning of a wonderful ride for me, that enabled me to have the visibility and be seen by a James Gunn and be seen by a J.J. Abrams … it will always be very special, the connection that I have with Neytiri.”
Avatar Was Very Important for Zoe Saldaña’s Career
Though Star Trek released a handful of months before Avatar in 2009, Avatar was the first time Saldaña had been cast in a primary role in a project of that magnitude. Prior to joining James Cameron’s sci-fi epic, she had accumulated several acting credits (including smaller parts in titles like Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and The Terminal), but Avatar is what put her on the map, completely transforming the trajectory of her career. Saldaña’s performance as Neytiri is a highlight of Avatar, and she demonstrated that she was more than capable of headlining a massive studio blockbuster. Without Avatar, she may not have landed roles like Uhura and Gamora, which would have been a significant loss for those franchises.
When taking a step back and looking at Saldaña’s career in full, it’s easy to see why she has such strong feelings about Neytiri. It’s clear the character means a lot to her, as she had an opportunity to portray a strong, powerful, and determined warrior who also cares deeply about those closest to her. Understandably, the visual effects in Avatar get a lion’s share of the attention, but Neytiri is one of the standout characters who proves the franchise has plenty of substance to complement the awe-inspiring spectacle. In Fire and Ash, Neytiri will be struggling as she mourns the loss of her son, giving Saldaña a chance to explore some rich dramatic material that showcases even more of her range.
