You’ve seen Zoe Saldaña everywhere—crushing it in the MCU, diving into the oceans of Pandora, and more recently, taking home a Best Supporting Actress Oscar in 2025 for her incredible turn in Emilia Pérez. But whenever she hits a red carpet, there is usually a tall, long-haired guy right by her side who looks like he walked straight out of a Renaissance painting. That’s her husband, Marco Perego-Saldaña.
A lot of people just assume he’s a model or maybe another actor, but that’s not really the case. Honestly, his actual career path is way more interesting than the standard Hollywood "trophy husband" narrative. Marco is a heavy hitter in the international art world and a rising filmmaker who literally just had a movie produced by Martin Scorsese.
What Does Zoe Saldana's Husband Do for a Living?
To put it simply: Marco Perego-Saldaña is a multidisciplinary artist. He’s a painter, a sculptor, a director, and a producer.
He didn’t start out in a gallery, though. Marco was actually a professional soccer player in Italy. He was good enough to be selected for Venice's professional team, which is no small feat. But then, at 21, a brutal leg injury ended his athletic career overnight. He moved to New York City with basically nothing, working as a busboy and a waiter in Spanish Harlem while trying to figure out his next move.
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He started painting, and things moved fast. By 2007, he had his big break when Gilda Moratti, a big-time film producer, bought one of his pieces. Suddenly, he went from living on 104th Street and worrying about rent to having Giorgio Armani wanting to buy his art.
A Career Built on Visual Storytelling
Marco’s art isn't just "pretty pictures." He’s known for abstract and surreal works that dive into heavy themes like evolution and anatomy. His work has been shown at the Venice Biennale and is sitting in permanent collections at places like the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles and the Centre Pompidou-Metz in France.
Lately, he’s been shifting into film. This isn't just a hobby for him. In 2024, he released a romantic drama called The Absence of Eden. He didn't just direct it; he co-wrote and produced it, too. And yeah, Zoe starred in it, but the project was very much his vision—a visual story about an ICE agent and a woman seeking asylum. He even got Martin Scorsese to come on as an executive producer. That's a pretty serious stamp of approval.
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Breaking the "Hollywood Husband" Mold
One of the coolest things about Marco is how he and Zoe handle their public identities. Back when they got married in 2013, Marco did something that caused a huge stir: he took Zoe's last name. He became Marco Perego-Saldaña.
Zoe actually tried to talk him out of it. She was worried he’d feel emasculated or that the Latin community might judge him. His response? "Zoe, I don't give a s**t."
That vibe carries over into their home life. They’ve talked a lot about raising their three sons—twins Cy and Bowie, and younger brother Zen—in a "gender-neutral" environment. In their house, tasks aren't divided by "men's work" or "women's work." If something breaks, Zoe might be the one fixing it; Marco is just as likely to be handling the domestic side of things.
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Recent Milestones and Collaborations
If you were watching the Academy Awards in early 2025, you saw a pretty emotional moment. When Zoe won her Oscar, her speech was almost entirely a tribute to Marco. She called being his partner the "biggest honor" of her life.
They also collaborate a lot more than people realize. Beyond The Absence of Eden, they worked on the short film Dovecote, which was actually shortlisted for an Oscar in 2024. Marco directed, and Zoe produced and starred.
Key Professional Projects (2023-2026)
- The Absence of Eden (2024): His feature directorial debut.
- Dovecote (2024): A highly acclaimed short film that hit the festival circuit.
- The Being (2025): An art installation presented at the Centre Pompidou-Metz.
- Venice Biennale (2024): Participated as part of the Vatican Pavilion.
What’s Next for the Artist?
As of 2026, Marco is deep into several new projects. He was recently invited by Philippe Parreno to collaborate on a major Manchester Factory International project. He’s also continuing to exhibit his sculptures globally.
Basically, if you're wondering what Zoe Saldaña's husband does, he's not just "the guy on her arm." He’s a legitimate force in the contemporary art world who happens to be married to a superstar.
If you want to keep up with his work, you should look beyond the celebrity tabloids. Check out the latest exhibition catalogs from The Drawing Center in New York or follow the independent film festival circuit where his directorial projects are gaining serious traction. Keeping an eye on the permanent collections at the Museo Jumex or the Pinault Collection is also a great way to see where his visual art is headed next.