Zoe Saldaña Says ShootingLionessSeason 2 Was 'Easier' Because of Her 'Beautiful Friendship' with Nicole Kidman (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Nicole Kidman and Zoe Saldana in ‘Lioness’ season 2.Photo:Lauren Smith/Paramount+

Lauren Smith/Paramount+

During a recent interview with PEOPLE,Zoe Saldañaexplained how her bond withNicole Kidmanwas important in revisitingLioness, which premiered on Sunday, Oct. 27. In addition to starring in the Paramount+ series, Saldaña and Kidman are executive producers, alongsideYellowstone’sTaylor Sheridanamong others.

“I feel like it gets easier to collaborate with people that you’re familiar with, and we do have a beautiful friendship — it’s genuine,” Saldaña says.

Zoe Saldana and Nicole Kidman in ‘Lioness’ season 2.Ryan Green/Paramount+

Ryan Green/Paramount+

Saldaña, 46, and Kidman, 57, explain that they have a “lot of things” in common — “We’re both Geminis!” Saldaña muses — but beyond that, they’re also extremely “devoted” to their families.

Saldaña shares three sons withMarco Perego— Cy, 9, Bowie, 9, and Zen, 7. While Kidman has four children whom she has with husbandKeith Urbanand exTom Cruise, including Bella Kidman Cruise, 31, Connor Cruise, 29, Sunday Rose Kidman Urban, 16 and Faith Margaret Kidman Urban, 13.

The two actresses also share a deep love for their craft.

“The one thing that I admire so much about Nicole is that she’s very passionate about what she does. Sheloveswhat she does,” Saldaña continues. “So there’s a level of preparation that she brings to the table, that repurposes you if you’re working alongside her. And I get to work with someone that I’ve truly respected and admired for such a long time. And now, I get to tell my friends like, ‘I’m friends with Nicole!'"

Zoe Saldana in ‘Lioness’ season 2.Lauren Smith/Paramount+

Kidman, for her part, says the two have a truly collaborative process.

“We’ll go, ‘What about this and what did you think of that? And should we do this?’” she says, adding, “We work together. So, it really is about a team. And we’re able to go in together as a united front, which is so good.”

Kidmanpreviously told PEOPLEin July 2023 that production forLionessis a demanding but ultimately gratifying process.

“There’s an enormous amount of action in this show," she said then. “We both had to work really hard, because they would share this fantastic dialogue, and you want to deliver on that. But it’s also very physical and demanding. It’s a rollercoaster ride.”

Nicole Kidman in ‘Lioness’ season 2.Lauren Smith/Paramount+

While there can be challenges on set at times, Saldaña tells PEOPLE the cast developed a sense of fellowship and generosity that comes in handy, particularly now that the show is on its second season.

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New episodes ofLionessdrop Sundays on Paramount+.

source: people.com