Zoe Saldana spoke candidly about some of the tragedies she experienced before becoming famous in Hollywood and her recent win at the Golden Globes. The 46-year-old actress, who won Best Supporting Actress for the film “Emilia Perez”gave an interview to “Harper’s Bazaar” and mentioned, among other things, her difficult childhood.

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Zoe – who grew up in New York – spoke of the profound impact losing her father in a car crash when she was just nine years old had on her. Discussing the impact his death had on her life, the actress revealed that she was trying to manage the situation while her mother struggled with depression.

“We left all those little pleasures of life that you do during the day and force you to calm down. I remember my mother used to wear red lipstick and walk around in little tight shorts and skinny jeans… And she always looked pretty and always flirted with my dad. When my father died, my mother couldn’t get out of bed.”

After his death, the mother of the famous actress, Asalia Nazario, sent her and her two sisters to live with relatives in the Dominican Republic, while she stayed and worked in the US.

Zoe explained that after they moved in they didn’t fit in with the other kids at school and they bullied her because they weren’t like them. “You can’t speak English – you only have to speak Spanish. And then they bully you because the kids don’t understand you. And we were no small victims. We resisted, but then they pushed us more”the actress revealed.

Zoe Saldana

As well as having difficulty communicating with other children, Zoe also felt sad and isolated due to growing up with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and dyslexia. “I was always out. When you have a kid who has ADHD and dyslexia and has a lot of energy and doesn’t sit still and can’t listen, you think it’s on purpose. I remember asking myself: ”Why don’t I fit in? Why am I doing this?” This made me very sad and made me feel really isolated.”

The actress explained that the people who “saved” her along the way were strong women, some of whom mentored her. “My life has always been saved, time and time again, by people who have taken me in, guided me, nurtured me and trained me”the actress added.