Zoe Saldana reveals she was once told by a producer that he only hired her because she looked good in 'panties' as she urges 'every young girl' to fight back against sexism
- The 37-year-old actress said that the producer in question told her she wasn't hired for her 'opinions'
- She did not reveal the identity of the producer – or the name of the movie in question
- Zoe used weapons while wearing underwear in the 2011 film Columbiana, which was produced by Luc Besson and Pierre-Ange Le Pogam
It helps to be gorgeous in Hollywood, but Zoe Saldana doesn't want her stunning features and amazing body to be the only reasons she gets roles - and she certainly doesn't want to be belittled because of them.
Which is why it was such a nasty shock for the 37-year-old to be told by a certain Hollywood producer that her only value was how she looked when she was half-naked and firing a weapon.
'A producer once told me he hired me for the way I held a gun while wearing panties, not for my opinions,' she revealed in a recent interview with the Philadelphia Daily News. 'I wish I’d recorded it, so I could play it for every girl in elementary school and tell them never to let anybody treat them that way.
Scroll down for video
Seriously sexist: A producer once told Zoe Saldana that she was only hired for how she looked holding a gun in panties - as she did in the 2011 film Columbiana
Fierce feminist: The 37-year-old actress said she wishes she had recorded the nasty remark as evidence of how no man should ever speak to a woman
While Zoe didn't specify which producer fed her this line, the actress did appear holding two guns while wearing only lingerie in the 2011 film Columbiana, which was produced by Luc Besson and Pierre-Ange Le Pogam.
However, in an interview published on the day of the film's release, Luc had only positive things to say about the star's abilities and input.
'Her work in Avatar was pretty impressive, first, physically. Very impressive with emotions,' he told Moviefone.com. 'I knew that she had the capacity for sure. And I met her and the girl is great. As a human being, she's great: she wants to work, she wants to learn, she asks the right questions.'
The offender? Luc Besson (left) co-produced the movie Columbiana (right), in which Zoe stripped down and fired off two guns
Svelte star: While Zoe is undoubtedly gorgeous, she understandably doesn't want to be told that it is the source of all of her worth
Zoe also made headlines discussing sexism last month - though at the time, it was double standards against men that caused her to speak out.
The Guardians of the Galaxy star married husband Marco Perego in 2013, but it recently came to light that her husband took her last name - a fact which many people criticized them for on the internet.
'Why is it so surprising, shocking, eventful that a man would take his wife’s surname?' she wrote in a Facebook post on June 8 to address the negative opinions. 'Men, you will not cease to exist by taking your partner’s surname. On the contrary you will be remember as a man who stood by change. [sic]'
Secure man: In 2013, Zoe married Marco Perego (right), who, it was recently revealed, took her last name
Starting a family: The couple have twin sons, Cy and Bowie, who were born in November
Despite facing those sexist comments, Zoe said that she was glad that her husband becoming a 'Saldana' opened up a conversation, since it might help change others' minds about the tradition of a woman taking a man's name upon marriage.
'For men to be discriminated and picked on for wanting to take on their partner's name, for their masculinity to be put into question, I think it's disgusting. It shouldn't be that way,' she told ET Online.
In fact, Zoe thinks that Marco taking her name - which is, arguably, more important for her career - sets an excellent example for the couple's twin sons, Cy and Bowie, who were born in November. She said that the secure gesture will will show their boys that they have a 'great man' for a father.
- Beach goer captures aftermath of beach explosion
- Horrifying moment slingshot ride cable SNAPS
- Solar cycle: The sun's 11-year heartbeat explained
- First look behind the scenes: Star Wars: The Force Awakens
- 'Just take the f****** picture': Prince Philip loses his...
- 'What the f***?' Can you hear McDonald's Minions swearing?
- Bicycle thief rips woman's phone out of her ands
- Couple parody Shut Up and Dance to announce pregnancy
- Innovative Tangle Teezer blow-drying brush is hugely popular
- Cat is secretly filmed by his owner using the toilet!
- Shocking moment taxi refuses to stop after hitting pram
- Trump defends remarks that Mexican immigrants are criminals
- Isis's female Gestapo wreaking terror on their own sex: They...
- Police left baffled by mystery beach explosion that launched...
- And after the wedding came the party! Glamorous Nicky Hilton...
- 'Yes my hands are full! Sometimes with two glasses of wine':...
- Trump takes incendiary immigration views to GOP faithful:...
- When's it your turn, Paris? Awkward moment Hilton heiress...
- Second Tunisia terror attack foiled: Five ISIS extremists...
- EXCLUSIVE - Glenn Beck launches outspoken attack on Caitlyn...
- Look, no hands! Unstoppable Williams wins the 'Serena Slam'...
- How doctor dubbed 'the worst fraudster in American history'...
- The lonely Lothario: He bathed in bubbly, out-caroused...
- Miami police officer who 'moonlights as a porn star' under...