Zoe Saldaña was bullied for not speaking Spanish: 'We pushed back, but then they pushed harder'

Zoe Saldaña has been opening up about her many experiences growing up as bilingual. After her incredible performance in the acclaimed film 'Emilie Perez' starring Selena Gomez, Adriana Paz, and Karla Sofia Gascon, Zoe has shared some of the struggles she experienced as a child.

The Hollywood star lived in New York City with her parents Asalia and Aridio, and her two sisters Cisley and Mariel. However, after the tragic death of her father when she was just nine years old, her life dramatically changed and she had to move to the Dominican Republic while her mom stayed in the United States working to support them.

© Vivien Killilea

While living with her family in the Dominican Republic, Zoe had to go to school and adapt to a new environment, which meant speaking Spanish in class. “You can’t speak English; you have to speak only Spanish. You can’t code-switch,” she told Harper's Bazaar about how the move impacted her life at a young age.

© JC Olivera

The actress also remembers being bullied as kids did not understand her and her sisters. “And then you get bullied because kids don’t understand you. And we weren’t little victims. We pushed back, but then they pushed harder, because they all understood each other," she told the publication.

© Michael Buckner

“They wouldn’t let us speak English in class,” her older sister, Mariel, added, “but then when we would have a break, you would see us in a corner just connecting. It felt like home.” “I think that unified us even more because not everybody could relate,” Cisely said. “You can’t expect them to have the same capacity and to understand what you’re going through.”

Zoe shared her love and appreciation for her family during her emotional speech at the 2025 Golden Globes, where she was recognized for her performance in the acclaimed film.