To this day, Zoe Saldaña’s performance in Avatar remains unmatched as she not only learned the Na’vi language, but her facial expressions recorded to appear in the Avatar franchise are one of the reasons why James Cameron advocates for 3D films. However, Saldaña has recently admitted that the Star Trek language, Klingon, was harder to learn than Na’vi’s.
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Although admittedly feeling stuck working in franchises instead of feeling any more challenges to developing her acting skills, learning the alien language of Klingon was more than enough for Saldaña as a way of compensating for the years she could have branched out of Guardians of the Galaxy, Avatar: The Way of Water, and Star Trek: Into Darkness. Recently speaking with Moovy TV, Saldaña opens up on comparing Klingon with Na’vi language. Check out her full comments below:
“I would say Klingon,” Saldaña says, “Because I had to learn the phrases that I was saying so quickly. But it was quite fun, too. When it comes to Na’vi, there were months and months where we were practicing. And we had Carla Meyer, who worked with us.”
Sam Worthington adds to the actress’ statement on how Na’vi is easier when compared to Klingon, “With Na’vi, if you can’t roll your Rs, they would change the word accordingly, to help you.”
“With [Klingon], you had to get it exactly as it was. And that was quite challenging.” Saldaña admits.
Saldaña’s roles as Nyota Uhura in Star Trek: Into Darkness and as Neytiri in Avatar: The Way of Water both required coming out of her shell to really get into character. However, even though Gamora in the Guardians of the Galaxy is technically a part of the alien-like race, she merely had to speak in English, which gladdened the actress in terms of learning to challenge herself even within the franchises she felt stuck in.
Avatar: The Way of Water is currently available in theaters worldwide.
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