Why Zoe Saldaña Turned Down Her Lioness Role For A Year Before Accepting It

Zoe Saldaña has her work cut out for her on "Lioness" as the show's lead character and an executive producer. But the Oscar winner initially turned down the role of CIA operative Joe McNamara in Taylor Sheridan's special ops thriller, taking an entire year to accept the challenge. 

Appearing on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" ahead of "Lioness" Season 3, Saldaña acknowledged the demanding nature of Sheridan's shows and explained why "Lioness" initially gave her pause. "For a year I said no because I didn't believe in me, but I kept saying this: 'If Taylor Sheridan believes in you ... then you have no choice but to believe in yourself,'" she recalled. "He writes amazing worlds, and there's got to be a reason as to why actors like Morgan Freeman, Nicole Kidman, Helen Mirren, Michelle Pfeiffer, Harrison Ford, they all just jump on board every time someone like Taylor Sheridan makes a call. And it's because he writes really rich characters, and for actors, there's a lot of growth that happens when you play characters that he creates."

The physical requirements of portraying a skilled military combatant didn't faze Saldaña, who has stayed in shape her entire acting career while appearing in action-oriented franchises like the Marvel Cinematic Universe and "Avatar." However, "Lioness" Season 3 was a whole different beast, as Sheridan asked Saldaña to build more muscle. In fact, the experience tested Saldaña so much that she decided she won't join another Sheridan-created series after "Lioness."

Despite doubting her ability to lead a Taylor Sheridan TV show at first, Zoe Saldaña has cherished playing Joe in all three seasons of "Lioness." Joe often finds herself torn between her high-stakes job as the head of the CIA's Lioness program and her increasingly unsteady family life, prompting inner conflicts and tense conversations on the battlefield, in the situation room, and at home. 

Stepping into the shoes of a complex character is just one aspect Saldaña enjoys about her time on the Paramount+ series. In a 2024 interview with People, the actress shared that she has dyslexia and that Sheridan's "Lioness" scripts have offered her some encouragement. "It's made me believe that I can do it if I continue to really work really hard. I think addressing my dyslexia and my anxiety was the reason why I sort of embarked on this challenge to do a Taylor Sheridan sort of show," Saldaña said. "He's very dialogue-heavy. It's very wordy. There's a cadence to the way he wants the sort of the dialogues in the scenes to be said."

Should Paramount+ renew "Lioness" for a fourth season, Saldaña could face more demanding action sequences and emotional moments. Between processing her husband Neal (Dave Annable) leaving with their children and potentially pursuing those responsible for her abduction and torture, Joe would have plenty to grapple with if the series returns.