Zoe Saldana Ethnicity: Here’s Everything You Need to Know

Is she Black, Latina, or Indian? A lot of people are getting curious about Zoe Saldana's ethnicity. The "Avatar" star is proud of her mixed heritage, with her parents coming from the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.

According to Defining Cultures, the "Guardians of the Galaxy" star was born in Passaic, New Jersey. However, she remains a proud Afro-Latina, with her father hailing from the Dominican Republic while her mother was from Puerto Rico.

Zoe Yadira Saldana Nazario, or simply Zoe Saldana, also has some Lebanese roots, as well as Haitian in her. In a previous interview with Allure Magazine, she identified herself as black, stating that "there's no one way to be black... I'm black the way I know how to be."

She added: "You have no idea who I am. I am black. I'm raising black men. Don't you ever think you can look at me and address me with such disdain."

The 44-year-old actress had a taste of what it is like living in the Dominican Republic. After being raised in Queens, New York, she moved to the Caribbean country with her mother and two sisters at age 10 after her father tragically died in a car accident.

She was immersed in the Dominican Republic's culture from a young age. Saldana first discovered a love for ballet in the Dominican Republic while learning various dance forms at the Ecos Espacio de Danza Academy.

Saldana continued to dance even after returning to the U.S. While performing with the Faces troupe and the New York Youth Theater, she was recruited by a talent agency, giving her a chance to act.

Zoe Saldana Ethnicity: Afro-Latina Actress From Dominican Republic

Zoe Saldana first grabbed audiences' attention as she played a plucky crewmember in 2003's "Pirates of The Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl." She continued having starring roles, this time opposite Ashton Kutcher in the 2005 romantic comedy, "Guess Who?"

She then dabbled into Sci-Fi flicks, playing Uhura in "Star Trek (2009)" before officially becoming an A-lister. Thanks to James Cameron's "Avatar," where she played the Na'vi princess, Neytiri.

Other big roles soon followed, including playing the intergalactic assassin Gamora in the Marvel Cinematic Universe superhero flick, "Guardians of the Galaxy."

She also becomes a much-sought-after model, gracing the covers of various fashion magazines, Elle, Vanity Fair, V, GQ Italia, and Nylon, according to Empire.

However, despite all the success, she still remembers her Dominican Republic roots. She continues to frequent the Caribbean country and even appeared in a 2007 Gap advertisement there with her two sisters, Cisely and Mariel.

Zoe Saldana Ethnicity, Dyslexia, and ADHD

Zoe Saldana's ethnicity is always a topic for many curious fans who Google details about her ancestry and racial background. But she often talks about being a proud Afro-Latina and her love for the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.

The actress also openly discusses her various conditions, such as dyslexia and ADHD. In a video posted by the Child Mind Institute, Saldana admitted that she was diagnosed of having ADHD and dyslexia.

When she was younger, she noted that her mother was encouraged by medical professionals and teachers to put her on medication. However, Saldana said her mother chose not to medicate her, and instead made her very busy with various activities.

She then told people with the same conditions: "Who you are and what you're going through is not wrong. If you use your voice and speak up, then you can get help - from a teacher, a friend, a parent, a hotline, a website. Speak up. You deserve to be heard."

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: ADHD, Dyslexia and What I Would Tell #MyYoungerSelf | Zoe Saldana - From Child Mind Institute