Zoe Saldaña, known for her roles in Avatar and Guardians of the Galaxy, will star in and executive produce Season 2 of Paramount+’s Special Ops: Lioness.
The series follows a secret CIA operative who works to assassinate terrorists. Saldaña returns as Joe, a tough CIA operative. She said that season 2 had more fight scenes and more physical scenes.
Saldaña credits the show’s creator, Taylor Sheridan, for knowing her background as a dancer and stunt performer.
“I like to surprise myself. I like to take myself to extreme conditions and see if I can pull it off,” she said.
One of the key moments of the new season involves her character asking potential new employees, “Do you love your country?” The weight of that question goes beyond mere words, Saldaña explained.
“I think it’s about understanding the sacrifice you have to make when you take an oath to your country,” she said. “I know that at all times, I will be expected to act to the best of my ability to protect the security of the nation. When I say nation, I mean its people.”
For Saldaña, this season brings further complexity to Jo’s character as she struggles to balance her duties and motherhood.
“Now that she’s grown up, she enjoys a level of fear that she’s never experienced before. When she’s young, she’s completely fearless,” Saldaña said. “The moment you get older and have kids, you start accepting your mortality and you feel your mortality. And I think that’s where Joe is.”
Saldaña also said she empathizes with Joe’s journey on a personal level, especially when it comes to being undervalued.
“That’s why I’m here today. I feel like it’s innate in me to stand up and give 120%, not for others. I have to live for myself first. “And secondly, I’m living for myself,” she said.
Season 2 of “Special Ops: Lioness” premieres October 27 on Paramount+.
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