Zoe Saldaña has broken her silence after officially overtaking Scarlett Johansson to become the highest-grossing film actor of all time, per film-news.co.uk. In an emotional address to fans, the star of Avatar and Guardians of the Galaxy attributed her record-breaking success to the “extraordinary journey” of her career.
Speaking via Instagram, Saldaña expressed deep gratitude to the filmmakers who shaped her path, specifically naming J.J. Abrams, James Gunn and the Russo Brothers. She shared a particularly heartfelt tribute to James Cameron, thanking him for “seeing something in me that I have not always seen in myself” and challenging her to “rise to the occasion.”
“None of this exists without you showing up time and time again,” Saldaña told her followers, describing the milestone as a shared victory. Looking toward the future of the industry, she added: “I’m deeply grateful and profoundly humbled. And may the next record-breaker be another woman.”
The actress was quickly flooded with congratulatory messages from Hollywood peers, including Kerry Washington and her Marvel co-star Karen Gillan.
•Featured image: Zoe Saldaña/Instagram
