Taylor Sheridan’s TV exhibits usually push actors to their limits, and Zoe Saldaña does not seem desirous to tackle one other of his challenges along with “Lioness.” On the Paramount+ sequence, Saldaña stars as no-nonsense CIA operative Joe McNamara, who runs the top-secret Lioness program whereas collaborating in high-stakes missions on the bottom.
In a 2026 interview with Individuals, Saldaña, who additionally serves as an government producer on “Lioness,” defined why she is not desirous to grow to be the most recent actor to affix a number of Sheridan-created exhibits. “I believe that Joe McNamara and ‘Lioness’ is all that I can deal with right now,” she stated. “I am primary on the decision sheet. I’m first one in, final one out. I’m prepping months earlier than anyone ever is ready to prep. So it is already a number of work for me.”
The position’s bodily calls for aren’t restricted to the coaching that goes into portraying a CIA operative. Sheridan’s desire for sensible units and results on exhibits like “Yellowstone,” “Landman,” and “Lioness” additionally contributes to the demanding nature of the work. “I am unable to think about me taking over extra of a Taylor Sheridan world,” Saldaña added. “I’ve my views, and I include all coronary heart, all brains, all muscle always. So, no, I believe I am good right here at ‘Lioness.'”
Zoe Saldaña described how Lioness Season 3 examined her much more
Though “Lioness” required Zoe Saldaña to present her all from the start, Season 3 was an particularly powerful check. In accordance with the star, Sheridan requested her to bulk up for the brand new storyline, wherein Joe will get kidnapped and tortured by unidentified brokers earlier than being rescued by her group within the penultimate episode. “I did not even know if I used to be gonna be capable of pull it off,” Saldaña shared with Leisure Weekly concerning her character’s agonizing Season 3 arc.
Saldaña has additionally confronted skepticism over whether or not she might convincingly pull off Joe’s demanding fight scenes. However she is not fazed by those that underestimate the in depth bodily preparation she brings to the position. “It is very typical to suppose {that a} lady with a petite body can’t be robust or succesful,” she instructed USA At the moment. “I’ve at all times confronted this backlash — like folks can’t imagine Joe might do lots of her scenes. And but I’ve at all times been this athletic actress, continuously coaching, even after I was pregnant with my youngsters.”
The destiny of “Lioness” past Season 3 stays up within the air as of this writing, with Paramount+ but to resume the sequence for a fourth season. No matter comes subsequent, Saldaña has made it clear that “Lioness” is the one Sheridan sequence she needs to tackle for now.
