Oscar winner Zoe Saldaña says she is frustrated when political questions are directed mainly at actors of color and women during industry events. Speaking at the Locarno Film Festival, she describes joining Q&As to discuss the craft of acting, but says she repeatedly encounters prompts that shift the focus toward social and political themes.
Across outlets, Saldaña argues the pattern can feel limiting because it places an unequal burden on marginalized performers. She says these questions often arise when she is the only woman or person of color on a panel, and contrasts that with how other panelists—such as white men—are not asked the same kind of political questions. She frames the issue as a matter of who gets expected to represent broader societal debates, rather than reflecting a balanced range of viewpoints from all participants.
