Zoe Saldaña believes that raising sons in today’s world comes with its own set of challenges.
Speaking at the 2026 Time 100 Gala, the actress shared her thoughts on navigating parenthood in an environment filled with constant influence and pressure.
According to her, the “noise” surrounding young boys today can be overwhelming, shaping how they see themselves and the world around them.
As a mother to three sons, Cy, Bowie and Zen, Saldaña admitted that one of her biggest struggles is protecting their emotional well-being while preparing them to face reality.
She explained that she wants to keep their hearts “gentle and soft”, while also building resilience in their mindset.
Her role as a mother is further shaped by identity and heritage. Raising sons of colour, children of immigrants and young American boys brings an added layer of responsibility.
Saldaña, who is of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent, shares her children with Italian artist Marco Perego.
Despite these complexities, she takes pride in her family’s background. However, her focus remains simple and grounded.
She wants her sons to grow into complete human beings, not defined solely by expectations placed on them.
Saldaña also shared a perspective that challenges common ideas about masculinity.
She described men as “delicate flowers”, highlighting the importance of preserving emotional sensitivity while nurturing strength.
For her, parenting is not about toughening her sons to survive the world.
Instead, it is about guiding them to remain kind, aware and emotionally present, even in a society that often encourages the opposite.
Her words reflect a growing shift in modern parenting, where raising boys is no longer about suppressing emotion, but about understanding it.