Zoe Saldaña Slams Awards for Ignoring CGI Performances:”it’s really hard to bring forward change”
Zoe Saldaña is famous for starring in some of the biggest movie franchises. She plays Neytiri in Avatar, Gamora in the Guardians of the Galaxy and Avengers movies, and Uhura in the Star Trek reboot series. These roles show her skill in bringing strong, complex characters to life, often using CGI and motion capture.
However, this same technology has kept her from winning major awards. Saldaña recently pointed out that actors who rely on CGI for their roles are often ignored by awards shows. She believes this happens because of outdated thinking and resistance to change.
While she isn’t bitter, she feels frustrated and disappointed that her hard work is often overlooked.
They do. Old habits die hard, and when you have old establishments, it’s really hard to bring forward change. And I understand that, so I’m not bitter about it, but it is quite deflating when you give 120 percent of yourself into something. I mean, not winning is OK, not being nominated is OK, but when you’re overlooked and then minimized and completely disregarded…
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Zoe Saldaña is a top contender for an Oscar this year for Emilia Pérez, but her past roles in Avatar, Star Trek, and Guardians of the Galaxy were often overlooked by the Academy. Some believe this is because her sci-fi characters, like Neytiri in Avatar, rely heavily on CGI, making her unrecognizable.
Although Avatar won three Oscars, including for visual effects, it didn’t get any acting nominations, even with director James Cameron advocating for Saldaña.
Many people still think acting is only about what’s physically visible, undervaluing the skill it takes to perform through CGI. While CGI performances require physical acting, voice work, and teamwork with visual effects artists, some argue that if you honor the artistry, the credit should go to the effects teams, not the actors.
It’s a tricky topic, but as more movies rely on technology, we’ll probably see some changes in the future. What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments!
