Zoe Saldaña, known for her powerful on-screen presence, recently opened up about taking on the challenging role in Lioness, a spy drama by Taylor Sheridan. In this series, Saldaña plays Joe, a program director for the CIA’s Lioness program, opposite prominent actors like Nicole Kidman and Morgan Freeman. While discussing her motivation for joining the cast, Saldaña revealed that the role was deeply personal for her, offering an opportunity to confront her struggles with dyslexia and anxiety. This challenge required a higher level of preparation, allowing her to push her boundaries in a way she hadn’t before.
The Power of Preparation
For Saldaña, Lioness presented a unique opportunity to “dare” herself by taking on a role that required overcoming her anxiety and addressing the complexities of dyslexia. She explained that Sheridan’s dialogue-heavy writing style was a major draw, even though it demanded rigorous mental preparation. Sheridan’s scenes are known for their complex, rhythmic dialogue, a feature that inspired Saldaña to hone her focus even further. Preparing for these demanding scripts wasn’t something she took lightly—she had to memorise lines down to the cadence of each sentence, essentially making the script an extension of herself.
To make this preparation possible, Saldaña leaned heavily on her family’s support. Her husband, Marco Perego, and their children played an integral role in her journey. She dedicated long hours to rehearsals and hired someone to break down lines with her over Zoom well in advance of filming. The commitment and exhaustive preparation allowed her to feel “120% ready” for each scene, which helped alleviate her anxiety and empower her to take on new creative risks. She noted that, for her, memorising and internalising lines became like performing ballet movements, as her brain translated words into a dance-like rhythm.
Facing Dyslexia and Anxiety Head-On
Saldaña’s journey with Lioness highlights the unique challenges dyslexia can bring to acting. Dyslexia, a learning disorder that affects language processing, can make fast-paced, last-minute changes especially overwhelming. Saldaña shared that while she is often ready for every prepared line, the real difficulty arises when a scene’s dialogue shifts unexpectedly. These moments, as she says, activate what she calls “dyslexia 2.0”—a heightened difficulty level for her that demands even more mental agility.
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Despite the difficulties, Saldaña found that engaging with these challenges helped her manage her dyslexia and reduce her anxiety. By focusing on what she could control—her preparation and commitment—Saldaña learned to embrace the uncertainties of the filming process, a lesson that’s proven invaluable in both her professional and personal life. The experience showed her that preparedness can significantly lessen the weight of her anxiety, giving her the confidence to step into new roles and stretch her limits.
Aiming for Bigger Goals While Balancing Family
While her performance in Lioness has marked a significant milestone, Saldaña’s aspirations don’t end here. She shared that one of her future ambitions is to direct, although she’s waiting until her children are older. Saldaña described directing as an intense, long-term commitment that would require her undivided attention for years. For now, she prioritizes being present for her kids, choosing to focus on roles that allow her to strike a balance between her career and family life. She admitted that being away from her children for extended periods is particularly hard, describing the emotional toll it takes as “intolerable.”
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The Marvel star also spoke candidly about her need to be fully present in her children’s lives, emphasizing that she wants to avoid any situation where her family feels her absence. This deeply personal approach to balancing family with her professional ambitions reflects her dedication to staying grounded and maintaining a strong support system, even as she takes on more demanding roles.
Why This Role Matters
Saldaña’s willingness to open up about her experiences with dyslexia and anxiety brings awareness to the challenges that many individuals face in high-pressure, creative fields. By choosing to tackle a character as demanding as Joe in *Lioness*, she demonstrates that actors with learning differences and mental health struggles can still excel in complex, dialogue-driven roles. Her experience highlights the power of determination, support, and relentless practice, inspiring viewers and fans alike to pursue their passions despite any obstacles.
In a world where mental health and neurodiversity are gaining overdue recognition, Saldaña’s openness about her journey is not only brave but also timely. Her story resonates with countless individuals facing similar hurdles and underscores the importance of resilience. By addressing her struggles openly and taking on roles that push her limits, Zoe Saldaña is championing a message that deserves to be heard: with the right support, anything is achievable.