It’s becoming more and more common for actresses to reveal the issues of sexism they’ve faced on set, from studios, and in their careers. Only when the problems are talked about will we have any idea of how to change them. So when Elizabeth Banks revealed earlier in the month that she was dropping out of directing “Pitch Perfect 3” because it would conflict with her parenting duties, we thought for sure that other women in Hollywood have faced parenting and childcare conundrums too.
As it turns out, Zoe Saldana is one of those other women. In anticipation of the upcoming release of “Star Trek Beyond,” Saldana did an in-depth interview with Allure magazine and revealed some of the issues she faced right after giving birth to twin boys.
Allure writes, “The studio behind one of her films initially turned down her request that it cover the extra child care she required in order to put in 15-hour days on set. Perks that male stars typically get — private-jet service and tricked-out trailers — were one thing; babysitting, apparently, was another.”
“The tone changed in the negotiations. I was starting to feel that I was…difficult,” she explained. But she rejected the notion that babysitting should be “considered a perk,” and refused to feel like she was “having a diva fit”: “No. This is a necessity that you must cover for me in order for me to go and perform my job.” Her request was granted, but the experience left a major impression on her. She remains deeply unimpressed by the “fact that there are women working in these studios — and they’re the ones [enforcing] these man-made rules.” She asked, “When are we going to learn to stick together?’”
Saldana recalled that her upbringing surrounded by tough women rubbed off on her. “‘I come from a family of women. Of tough women,’ she says of growing up in Jackson Heights, Queens, with her sisters, Mariel and Cisely. ‘Not in a bad way, just resilient, and strong, and determined, and super-opinionated.’”
Though she enjoys being a part of science-fiction films like “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Avatar,” and “Star Trek,” she does wish there were more women involved. She admitted, “Part of growing up for me has been realizing that being the only female in a cast is no longer the coolest thing. It’s lonely. I used to love it because I thought, ‘Ooh, I got in! I’m a cool girl!’ But while all the guys were flexing and talking about their motorcycles, I was sitting there wishing I had women around.”
“Star Trek Beyond” hits theaters on July 22.
