Zoe Saldaña has made a decision regarding her involvement in Taylor Sheridan’s television projects. The Oscar-winning actress stars in Sheridan’s CIA drama “Lioness” as Joe McNamara. She remarked that the intensity of this role already tests her limits, leaving little capacity for other roles within Sheridan’s expanding TV landscape.
Saldaña told People, “I think that Joe McNamara and ‘Lioness’ is all that I can handle at this time.” The character demands a lot from her, and Saldaña has no interest in participating in more of Sheridan’s series.
Playing Joe involves a huge workload. Saldaña is typically the first to arrive on set and the last to leave. “I’m number one on the call sheet,” she said. Preparing long before filming begins means it’s already a significant effort. “I can’t imagine me taking on more of a Taylor Sheridan world,” she stated.
Although Saldaña isn’t pursuing additional roles from Sheridan, she values the trust they’ve built over three seasons. “The good takeaway that I’m grateful for is that he knows that I’m reliable, just like Joe is,” she said. Saldaña claimed Sheridan recognizes her as “honest,” “tough as nails,” and “vocal and opinionated.”
Before the third season premiered, Saldaña admitted she questioned her ability to manage the role’s demands. “It was very demanding, I’m not gonna lie,” she revealed to Entertainment Weekly. “I didn’t even know if I was gonna be able to pull it off.”
Saldaña praised Sheridan’s writing of Joe as a character based on ability rather than gender. She expressed her honor in portraying one of his female leads. Season three, which ended on September 20, highlighted Joe’s personal challenges as her family and marriage faced increasing stress. Saldaña described playing Joe as the most challenging part of her career.
Joe stands out for Saldaña because Sheridan wrote her character without focusing on gender. “We’ve seen various stories of men like Joe,” Saldaña explained. Sheridan’s writing allows a diverse range of actors to audition because it emphasizes the individual’s capabilities, not gender or race.
Saldaña shared, “I have a great deal of respect for men that really know how to write women.” After three seasons as Joe, she feels incredibly honored.
Leave a Reply