Zoe York Popular Books

Zoe York Biography & Facts

Zoë Yadira Saldaña-Perego ( sahl-DAN-ə, Spanish: [ˈsoe salˈdaɲa]; née Saldaña Nazario; born June 19, 1978) is an American actress. The recipient of numerous accolades, known for her work in science fiction film franchises, she has starred in four of the highest-grossing films of all time (Avatar, Avatar: The Way of Water, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame). and, as of 2023, she is the second-highest-grossing film actress. Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2023.A trained dancer, Saldaña began her acting career in two 1999 episodes of Law & Order. Her first film role was in Center Stage (2000) in which she played a ballet dancer. She received early recognition for her work opposite Britney Spears in the road film Crossroads (2002). Beginning in 2009, Saldaña achieved a career breakthrough with her roles as Nyota Uhura in the Star Trek film series and Neytiri in James Cameron's Avatar film series. She portrayed Gamora in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, from Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023). In addition to franchise work, Saldaña has starred in the science fiction film The Adam Project and the romantic drama miniseries From Scratch, both for Netflix in 2022. In 2023, she began playing the lead role of a CIA officer in the Paramount+ spy series Special Ops: Lioness. Early life Saldaña was born on June 19, 1978, in Passaic, New Jersey. Her parents are Aridio Saldaña, who is Dominican, and Asalia Nazario, a Dominican with partial Puerto Rican ancestry. As a child, Nazario was living with her mother in the Dominican Republic, but they immigrated to New York to escape political unrest. In an interview with Wired, Saldaña has said that she is three-quarters Dominican and one-quarter Puerto Rican.She and her two sisters, Cisely and Mariel, were raised bilingual in English and Spanish; the latter was their first language at home. The majority of her early childhood was spent in Jackson Heights, Queens in New York City.Their father died in a vehicle crash when Saldaña was nine. Her mother sent the three sisters to the Dominican Republic to be raised by their late father's family. She stayed in New York to work in order to afford private school for the girls. The widowed mother Asalia married Dagoberto Galán, who became the stepfather of the girls. They consider him fully their father.With regard to her racial identity, Saldaña has said, "There's no one way to be Black. I'm Black the way I know how to be."Saldaña discovered her love of dance while living in the Dominican Republic. She was enrolled in the ECOS Espacio de Danza Academy studying forms of dance, but describes ballet as her passion. She told Vanity Fair that she quit ballet because she did not "have the feet", and had too much pride and ambition to just be in the corps de ballet.The family returned to New York City after her sophomore year; she completed her early education at Newtown High School in Queens.In 1995, Saldaña performed with the Faces theater group in Brooklyn. She appeared in plays that encouraged teens by exploring such issues as substance abuse and adolescent sex. During these years, she performed with the New York Youth Theater; her appearance in their production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat led a talent agency to recruit her. Her dance training and her acting experience helped her land her first film role, playing ballet student Eva Rodriguez in Center Stage (2000). Career Beginnings Saldaña was a member of Faces after her exposure in an episode of Law & Order (titled "Refuge, Part 2") in 1999. Saldaña's first film role was in Center Stage (2000), directed by Nicholas Hytner, about dancers at the fictitious American Ballet Academy in New York city. She appeared in the Britney Spears vehicle Crossroads (2002). The film earned negative reviews from critics, but was a box-office success. Saldaña starred in the comedy-drama Drumline (2002), alongside Nick Cannon, earning mixed reviews.In Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), she played Anamaria, a pirate joining Will Turner and Mr. Gibbs for a chance to confront Jack Sparrow for stealing her ship. She appeared in The Terminal as Dolores Torres, an immigration officer and Star Trek fan, a role helping Saldaña during her portrayal in the Star Trek reboot (2009). In 2004, she had roles in Haven and Temptation; both earned little-to-no box-office success. In 2005, Saldaña appeared in Constellation, Guess Who with Ashton Kutcher, and Dirty Deeds. She starred in the romantic comedy-dramas Premium (2006) and After Sex (2007). Saldaña starred in Blackout, a television film set in New York city during the Northeast Blackout of 2003. The film premiered at the 2007 Zurich Film Festival, and debuted on BET in 2008. Saldaña had a supporting role as Angie Jones in the action thriller Vantage Point (2008). Breakthrough with franchise roles Saldaña appeared in two roles in 2009, raising her profile considerably. She played Nyota Uhura in Star Trek. The film's director J. J. Abrams asked Saldaña to play the role because he enjoyed her work. She met with Nichelle Nichols to understand the creation of Uhura's background and name of the character. Saldaña's mother was a Star Trek fan, leaving voice-mails during filming, advising on the role. Steven Spielberg taught her the Vulcan salute five years earlier while he directed her in The Terminal. Star Trek (2009) was a box-office success earning $385.7 million.Saldaña's second high-profile film in 2009 was Avatar, where she portrayed the indigenous hunter Neytiri. Avatar was well received by critics, accumulating an approval rating of 83% on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. It grossed $2.7 billion worldwide to become the highest-grossing film of all time, as well as in the United States and Canada. It also became the first film to gross more than $2 billion worldwide. The film was nominated for ten Saturn Awards, and won all ten at the 36th Saturn Awards ceremony. Saldaña's Saturn Award for Best Actress win marked a rare occurrence for an all-CG character.In 2010, Saldaña performed in The Losers as Aisha al-Fadhil, a native Bolivian woman. For the role, she was required to gain weight to carry weapons for eight hours a day. In 2010, she appeared in Takers, Death at a Funeral, and Burning Palms. Her television ad for Calvin Klein's "Envy" line debuted in 2010. In 2011, Saldaña starred in the romantic comedy The Heart Specialist, and portrayed assassin Cataleya Restrepo in the crime drama Colombiana. Although the latter film earned negative reviews from critics, Saldaña's performance was praised.In 2012, she appeared in the romantic drama The Words, earning negative reviews from critics with little success at the box-office.In 2013, Saldaña reprised her role as Uhura in Star Trek Into Darkness, the sequel to the Star Trek re-boot. Like the previous film, it was a box-office .... Discover the Zoe York popular books. Find the top 100 most popular Zoe York books.

Best Seller Zoe York Books of 2024

  • Beyond Love and Hate synopsis, comments

    Beyond Love and Hate

    Zoe York

    First comes love, then comes marriage...Beth Stewart is ready to find a nice guy and settle down. But the only man who makes her tingle also drives her crazy in the nonsexy, workre...

  • Fierce at Heart synopsis, comments

    Fierce at Heart

    Zoe York

    He's a new firefighter with a lot to prove, and she's the former army captain who just wants to open a bakery and start a new life.Adam Kincaid wants to be known as his own person:...

  • Godslayers synopsis, comments

    Godslayers

    Zoe Hana Mikuta

    GodslayersZoe Hana Mikuta's highoctane sequel to Gearbreakersis perfect for fans of Pacific Rim, Pierce Brown's Red Rising Saga, and Marie Lu's Legend series.The only way to kill a...

  • Fairytale of New York synopsis, comments

    Fairytale of New York

    Zoë Folbigg

    New from the NUMBER ONE bestselling author of The Note. A mustread winter romance for fans of When Harry Met Sally!'A wonderful read that’s got everything – romance, suspense, a Ne...

  • Fall for a SEAL synopsis, comments

    Fall for a SEAL

    Zoe York

    The lighter side of Navy SEAL romanceswhat happens when you strip them down and throw a woman they can't resist in their path... The first three stories in the SEALs Undone se...

  • Fall Hard synopsis, comments

    Fall Hard

    Zoe York

    Navy SEAL Jared Sutter has a simple rule when it comes to women: keep 'em happy and keep 'em at a distance. He's got his reasons, and they all make sense until he falls for his nei...

  • Take a Chance on Me synopsis, comments

    Take a Chance on Me

    Zoe York

    Navy SEAL Grady Mills has returned to summer camp intent on winning back a certain sexy news producer with whom he shared a secret one night standand then a single scorching phone ...

  • Love on the Outskirts of Town synopsis, comments

    Love on the Outskirts of Town

    Zoe York

    Matt Foster has never met a woman he couldn't seduce into his bed. But when he meets Natasha Kingsley, there's just one little problemshe's not alone. Her threeyearold daughter wan...

  • Reckless at Heart synopsis, comments

    Reckless at Heart

    Zoe York

    He's a grumpy silver fox who's about to become a grandfather, and she's the sunshiny young midwife who wants babies of her own… Owen Kincaid knows how hard it is to have a kid...

  • Self-Portrait with Boy synopsis, comments

    Self-Portrait with Boy

    Rachel Lyon

    Soon to be made into a major motion pictureSelf Portraitstarring Zoë Kravitz and Thomasin McKenzieLonglisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize, a "rich and thorny page t...

  • Facing the Music synopsis, comments

    Facing the Music

    David Loud

    Musical Director and arranger David Loud, a legendary Broadway talent, recounts his wildly entertaining and deeply poignant trek through the wilderness of his childhood and the edg...

  • Ambushed by Love synopsis, comments

    Ambushed by Love

    Zoe York

    As a retirement gift, Admiral Frank DeMarco has been gifted a week at an allinclusive rustic resort in the Berkshires by his favorite Navy SEAL team. The VIP treatment is the last ...

  • Molly Falls to Earth synopsis, comments

    Molly Falls to Earth

    Maria Mutch

    An enthralling debut novel by Governor General’s Literary Awards finalist Maria Mutch that is an inventive exploration of time, absence, and desire.I feel in some strange place.In ...

  • The Eden Trilogy synopsis, comments

    The Eden Trilogy

    Joey Graceffa

    Discover the thrilling and evocative #1 New York Times bestselling Eden trilogy as never before with this beautifully designed collection from the visionary author and digital crea...

  • Love in a Small Town synopsis, comments

    Love in a Small Town

    Zoe York

    Are they one latenight hayride away from tumbling back into a very bad idea?Olivia Minelli needs a oneway ticket out of Pine Harbour. It's too small for both her and her exhusband....

  • Skinny Dipping Dare synopsis, comments

    Skinny Dipping Dare

    Zoe York

    Navy SEAL Wyatt Henderson had signed up for a guysonly week of fishing and hiking and beer at his buddy's favourite camp in the Berkshires. Nobody said anything about campfire song...

  • From Scratch synopsis, comments

    From Scratch

    Tembi Locke

    Now a limited Netflix series starring Zoe Saldana! This Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick and New York Times bestseller is “a captivating story of love lost and found” (Kirkus Revie...

  • Fall Deep synopsis, comments

    Fall Deep

    Zoe York

    Navy SEAL Miles Dumbrowski is on his way back to war. He isn't supposed to fall in love.Piper Harrington left San Diego behind, looking for adventure in Europe. The nostrings, easy...

  • My Fake Rake synopsis, comments

    My Fake Rake

    Eva Leigh

    "[A] feast of female empowerment, positive friendships, feelgood moments, and social satire." NPR“A jolt of electricity, a blast of fresh aireverything delightful and exciting you...

  • Fall Dark synopsis, comments

    Fall Dark

    Zoe York

    Until two weeks ago, Vince Nash was a Navy SEAL. Now he's just a guy with a failing family business and a very specific skill set, and if he can get through a job interview at Camo...

  • Tales from the Back Row synopsis, comments

    Tales from the Back Row

    Amy Odell

    A keenly observed collection of personal essays about what it’s like to be a young woman working in the fashion industry, Amy Odell’s Tales from the Back Row offers “a backstage pa...

  • Perfect No Matter What synopsis, comments

    Perfect No Matter What

    Zoe York

    A short and sexy sequel to What Once Was Perfect, Wardham #2.They keep meaning to say I do…Laney and Kyle lost each other once. Now they've found a way back together, and nothing w...

  • Love in a Sandstorm synopsis, comments

    Love in a Sandstorm

    Zoe York

    Captain Sean Foster came back from war broken from the inside out. And he doesn't care about being fixed. Not even by a woman who followed him halfway around the world due to some ...

  • What Once Was Perfect synopsis, comments

    What Once Was Perfect

    Zoe York

    Teacher, carpenter, and his small town's favourite son, Kyle Nixon has a pretty sweet life. But he's never forgiven himself for breaking Laney Calhoun's heart a decade earlier when...

  • No Time Like Forever synopsis, comments

    No Time Like Forever

    Zoe York

    It started with a kiss...Mari Beadie needed a boyfriend, and former NHL hockey star Chase Miller happened to be in the right place at the right time. The kiss that followed wasn't ...

  • My First New York synopsis, comments

    My First New York

    New York Magazine

    From the staff of New York Magazine comes the perfect gift for the Manhattanite in all of us. My First New York is a glorious collection of recollections and reminiscences as fifty...

  • Zoey Is Too Drunk for This Dystopia synopsis, comments

    Zoey Is Too Drunk for This Dystopia

    Jason Pargin

    Zoey is Too Drunk for This Dystopia is the latest installment in New York Times bestselling author Jason Pargin's thrilling Zoey Ashe scifi series.Zoey Ashe wakes up every day feel...

  • Fall Out synopsis, comments

    Fall Out

    Zoe York

    First book in the SEALs Undone military romance series! Hot, sweet, sexy reads about men in uniform being completely undone by the women they fall in love with.Drew Castle is a Nav...

  • Binge synopsis, comments

    Binge

    Tyler Oakley

    Popculture phenomenon, social rights advocate, and the most prominent LGBTQ+ voice on YouTube, Tyler Oakley brings you Binge, his New York Times bestselling collection of witty, pe...

  • Forever Begins With a Kiss synopsis, comments

    Forever Begins With a Kiss

    Zoe York

    Before they can say I do, they need to say enough…Mari Beadie's singing career is on the rise, and too often, she's flying in the wrong direction from her exNHL hockey star fiancé,...

  • Love on a Spring Morning synopsis, comments

    Love on a Spring Morning

    Zoe York

    Her simple friendship helps pull him out of grief. But he doesn't know she's a movie starand she knows he can't expose his family to the spotlight of fame.Single father and widower...

  • Seduced by the Best Man synopsis, comments

    Seduced by the Best Man

    Zoe York

    Navy SEAL Dylan Van Doren knows a thing or two about keeping his enemies at bay. But even though Astrid Hughes iswasthe maid of honor in his brother's disaster of a nonwedding, she...

  • Love in a Snowstorm synopsis, comments

    Love in a Snowstorm

    Zoe York

    A sexy standalone romance in the Pine Harbour series from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Zoe York. It's time for this soldier to fight for the ...

  • Love on the Run synopsis, comments

    Love on the Run

    Zoe York

    Bodyguard. [Noun]A person hired to escort and protect another person. Escort and protect. Definitely no flirting, kissing, or testing the bounds of third base. Dean Foster has...

  • Love on a Summer Night synopsis, comments

    Love on a Summer Night

    Zoe York

    Never say never. Especially not to a determined bad boy.Zander Minelli is exactly the wrong kind of man. He's dark, dangerous, and knows far too much about sawedoff shotguns. ...

  • Love on the Edge of Reason synopsis, comments

    Love on the Edge of Reason

    Zoe York

    Tom Minelli doesn't know why Chloe Dawson has fled Pine Harbour, but she's pregnant with his baby and he wants her back. Not just back in town. He wants Chloe back in his life, and...

  • Fall Back synopsis, comments

    Fall Back

    Zoe York

    When Navy SEAL Cade Duncan partners up with Mel Vincent for an endurance race, he doesn't expect to tumble into a romantic fling in paradiseor to be so pissed with the beautiful wo...

  • Fall Fast synopsis, comments

    Fall Fast

    Zoe York

    Stranded with a Navy SEALNavy SEAL Nathan Meyers and recent divorcee (as of an hour ago) Emme Ryan both want a night of escape from their real lives, for very different reasons. A ...

  • Fall Away synopsis, comments

    Fall Away

    Zoe York

    Nothing is more awkward than waking up next to a woman whose name you can't remember... Navy SEAL Trick Novak knows he needs to find a better cure for his insomnia, but a warm...

  • Romance Your Brand synopsis, comments

    Romance Your Brand

    Zoe York

    "Genre fiction series are the bread and butter of midlist writers. For many, they make the difference between a writing dream and a writing career." Zoe York/Ainsley Booth, US...

  • Between Then and Now synopsis, comments

    Between Then and Now

    Zoe York

    Their story didn't start with a fairytale romance...Romance is the last thing on Ian's mind. He's juggling the family farm and a second job, his kids are a crazy handful and every ...

  • Zoe Sophia in New York synopsis, comments

    Zoe Sophia in New York

    Claudia Mauner & Elisa Smalley

    When Zoe Sophia's favorite person in the world, her great aunt Dorothy Pomander, comes to New York, she and Zoe Sophia quickly become embroiled in a mystery as they do research...

  • Romance Your Plan synopsis, comments

    Romance Your Plan

    Zoe York

    After writing a genre fiction series, what's next? Zoe York has been there a dozen times. In this follow up to Romance Your Brand, the USA Today bestselling author breaks down how ...

  • Romance Your Goals synopsis, comments

    Romance Your Goals

    Zoe York

    Our publishing business is an extension of who we are and what we want in life. In order to find success at genre fiction writing, authors need to figure out which projects will mo...