Zoe Saldaña Says She Made It Her 'Mission' to Help NewLionessCostar Genesis Rodriguez 'Shine' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Genesis Rodriguez (left) and Zoe Saldaña in season 2 of ‘Lioness’.Photo:Ryan Green/Paramount+; Lauren Smith/Paramount+

Ryan Green/Paramount+; Lauren Smith/Paramount+

Zoe Saldañais all about empowering others.Lionessreturned this past weekend for season 2, starringZoe Saldaña,Nicole KidmanandMorgan Freeman. New cast member Genesis Rodriguez was also welcomed into the fold, making her debut as Captain Josephina Carrillo, or “Josie,” a toughened helicopter pilot with a mysterious past.While Josie and Saldaña’s character, Joe, initially butt heads, the actresses share a friendly bond in real life. Part of that has to do with Saldana’s long held, deeply ingrained working philosophy.“I make it my mission to just genuinely root for people,” Saldaña, 46, tells PEOPLE. “There is space foreveryoneto shine. And the level of support that I like to provide for my co-workers and my peers and my superiors, you do it. Because you know that if you do it, they’re going to pay it forward, and you will receive it in your times of most need.”Genesis Rodriguez in season 2 of ‘Lioness.'.Pararmount+Rodriguez, for her part, admits she’s been a “fan” of Saldana’s for “so long.”“One time we ran into each other … it’s not that she knew who I was at all — she recognized my dad,” says Rodriguez, 37, referring to singer José Luis Rodriguez. “They had a really sweet moment, and my dad was like, ‘And this is my daughter.’ He introduced me. And then after that, we had another meeting, and I was just like, ‘I hope I get to work with you one day. That’s a really big dream of mine.’ And we manifested that.”Working on the show overall was something of a dream for Rodriguez, who previously appeared inThe Umbrella Academy, Identity Thiefand voiced Honey Lemon inBig Hero 6.Some casts may seek solo time when the cameras stop rolling, but Rodriguez admits theLionesscostarsspent a lot of time together. “What’s beautiful about this cast is that we hung out every weekend — every single weekend — and that’s unusual foranyjob,” the actress explains.Bruce McGill, Jennifer Ehle, Morgan Freeman, Michael Kelly and Nicole Kidman in season 2 of ‘Lioness.'.Ryan Green/Paramount+“Imagine going to work, you don’t want to see your coworkers. But here, I just wanted to be with them all the time like, ‘Where are we going? Are we going to the pool? Are we going to this barbecue?’” she continues. “It’s always nerve wracking to join a new group of people that you don’t know, but this really is the best cast and I got very lucky.”In addition to Saldaña, Kidman, Freeman and Rodriguez,Lioness’cast features Michael Kelly, Laysla De Oliveira, Jill Wagner, LaMonica Garrett, Jennifer Ehle, James Jordan, Austin Hébert, Jonah Wharton, Bruce McGill and Thad Luckinbill.Saldaña, Kidman and Wagner also serve as executive producers, alongside creatorTaylor Sheridan, David C. Glasser, Ron Burkle, Bob Yari, David Hutkin, David Lemanowicz, Geyer Kosinski, Michael Friedman and Keith Cox.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.New episodes ofLionessdrop Sundays on Paramount+.

Zoe Saldañais all about empowering others.

Lionessreturned this past weekend for season 2, starringZoe Saldaña,Nicole KidmanandMorgan Freeman. New cast member Genesis Rodriguez was also welcomed into the fold, making her debut as Captain Josephina Carrillo, or “Josie,” a toughened helicopter pilot with a mysterious past.

While Josie and Saldaña’s character, Joe, initially butt heads, the actresses share a friendly bond in real life. Part of that has to do with Saldana’s long held, deeply ingrained working philosophy.

“I make it my mission to just genuinely root for people,” Saldaña, 46, tells PEOPLE. “There is space foreveryoneto shine. And the level of support that I like to provide for my co-workers and my peers and my superiors, you do it. Because you know that if you do it, they’re going to pay it forward, and you will receive it in your times of most need.”

Genesis Rodriguez in season 2 of ‘Lioness.'.Pararmount+

Pararmount+

Rodriguez, for her part, admits she’s been a “fan” of Saldana’s for “so long.”

“One time we ran into each other … it’s not that she knew who I was at all — she recognized my dad,” says Rodriguez, 37, referring to singer José Luis Rodriguez. “They had a really sweet moment, and my dad was like, ‘And this is my daughter.’ He introduced me. And then after that, we had another meeting, and I was just like, ‘I hope I get to work with you one day. That’s a really big dream of mine.’ And we manifested that.”

Working on the show overall was something of a dream for Rodriguez, who previously appeared inThe Umbrella Academy, Identity Thiefand voiced Honey Lemon inBig Hero 6.

Some casts may seek solo time when the cameras stop rolling, but Rodriguez admits theLionesscostarsspent a lot of time together. “What’s beautiful about this cast is that we hung out every weekend — every single weekend — and that’s unusual foranyjob,” the actress explains.

Bruce McGill, Jennifer Ehle, Morgan Freeman, Michael Kelly and Nicole Kidman in season 2 of ‘Lioness.'.Ryan Green/Paramount+

Ryan Green/Paramount+

“Imagine going to work, you don’t want to see your coworkers. But here, I just wanted to be with them all the time like, ‘Where are we going? Are we going to the pool? Are we going to this barbecue?’” she continues. “It’s always nerve wracking to join a new group of people that you don’t know, but this really is the best cast and I got very lucky.”

In addition to Saldaña, Kidman, Freeman and Rodriguez,Lioness’cast features Michael Kelly, Laysla De Oliveira, Jill Wagner, LaMonica Garrett, Jennifer Ehle, James Jordan, Austin Hébert, Jonah Wharton, Bruce McGill and Thad Luckinbill.

Saldaña, Kidman and Wagner also serve as executive producers, alongside creatorTaylor Sheridan, David C. Glasser, Ron Burkle, Bob Yari, David Hutkin, David Lemanowicz, Geyer Kosinski, Michael Friedman and Keith Cox.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

New episodes ofLionessdrop Sundays on Paramount+.

source: people.com