Zoe Saldaña Feels Actors Who Use CGI for Roles Are Often Overlooked for Awards

Zoe Saldaña feels actors who use CGI in films are often overlooked when it comes time for awards season.

The actress, who has starred in a handful of sci-fi projects over the years that use plenty of visual effects, recently opened up in an interview with the Independent about the seemingly uphill battle actors face for awards when they use said effects.

“They do,” Saldaña said when asked if she thinks awarding bodies struggle to look past CGI when used on actors. “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…”

While Saldaña is one of the top contenders in the current Oscars conversation for her role in Emilia Pérez, her previous roles in the Avatar films, Star Trek and Guardians of the Galaxy often went unnoticed by the Academy. But it begs the question as to whether being unrecognizable for her sci-fi characters played a role in those decisions, such as the blue skin and glistening, doe eyes for her role as Neytiri in Avatar.

The James Cameron-helmed film ultimately won three Oscars for best cinematography, visual effects and art direction, but didn’t even land a single acting nomination, despite Cameron campaigning for an Oscar nom for Saldaña at the time.

The Lioness actress also recalled to the Independent people arguing once that her Avatar performance was accomplished by technicians alone.

“I know the difference between that and what we did,” Saldaña said, before doubling down on her reasoning for continuing to pursue acting is much bigger than awards. “At some point you have to ask yourself: why is it that I do what I do? Is it so others can give me approval? Or is it because I don’t want to do anything else?”

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