DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

Dominicans worldwide are beaming with pride as global superstar Zoe Saldaña cements her place in history. Her return to play Neytiri in the third film in the Avatar series has won artistic recognition of critics and propelled her to be the highest-grossing leading actor of all time.

Critics praise her performance as a grieving mother in Avatar: Fire and Ash, saying she is building on the acting that led her to win supporting actress award in the musical drama Emilia Perez in 2025.

While in the previous films Neytiri was defined by her connection to nature and her role as a protector, in Fire and Ash, her character arc is defined by grief, rage, and a crisis of faith.

Avatar director James Cameron and critics have noted that the “Fire” in the title largely refers to Neytiri herself. Following the death of her eldest son Neteyam (in The Way of Water), she is consumed by a burning anger. This film explores her darker side as she struggles to forgive and finds her spiritual...