Honestly, if you’ve ever watched a red carpet and seen a guy with long, flowing hair looking like he just stepped out of a Renaissance painting standing next to Zoe Saldaña, you’ve probably wondered who he is. He isn’t just some guy. He’s Marco Perego-Saldaña, an Italian artist and director who has basically redefined what it looks like to be a "supportive spouse" in Hollywood.
But here’s the thing: most people just know him as the guy who took his wife’s last name. While that’s true—and it was a huge deal back in 2013—it’s actually the least interesting thing about him once you dig into his story.
A Pro Soccer Career That Vanished
Marco wasn’t always into the fine arts. Growing up in Salò, Italy, he was a massive soccer talent. He was actually good enough to be selected for Venice's professional team. Can you imagine? We almost had a world where he was a Serie A star instead of an artist.
Then, at 21, a brutal leg injury ended everything.
Basically, his entire identity as an athlete was wiped out in an instant. He didn’t just sit around and mope, though. He moved to New York City with almost no money and worked as a busboy, a waiter, and a soccer teacher just to pay the rent. He was living in Spanish Harlem on 104th Street, trying to figure out if his art was actually worth anything.
He eventually approached film producer Gilda Moratti and told her, "Look at my work. If it's a joke, I'll find something else to do." She loved it. That was the spark. He went from living on scraps to selling out his first show in Italy in a single day. Giorgio Armani even bought one of his pieces. Talk about a glow-up.
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Who is Zoe Saldaña’s Husband? The Real Story of How They Met
The way these two met is kinda like a movie script. It was 6:30 in the morning on a flight to New York back in 2013. Zoe says she saw him from behind—just the back of his head—and felt a "vibration."
I know, it sounds a bit "Hollywood," but she swears by it.
She wasn't even looking at his face, yet she felt this instant pull. He felt it too, because he turned around right at that moment. They had actually known of each other for years—Zoe had been aware of his art since 2008—but that flight was the catalyst.
They didn't wait around. They started dating in April 2013, were spotted kissing at a Star Trek Into Darkness party in May, and by June, they were secretly married in London. They don't do the "ABC" way of dating; they just went with their gut.
The Surname Change Heard 'Round the World
When they got married, Marco did something that genuinely shocked people: he took her last name. He became Marco Perego-Saldaña.
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Zoe actually tried to talk him out of it. She was worried he’d be "emasculated" by the Latin community and the art world. Marco’s response? In his thick Italian accent, he basically told her he didn't "give a sheet."
He wasn't worried about his masculinity being tied to a surname. He wanted to stand by change. Today, in 2026, we see more of this, but back then, it was a massive statement. They both hyphenated, so she is Zoe Saldaña-Perego and he is Marco Perego-Saldaña.
Life in a "Gender-Fluid" Household
The couple is raising three sons: twins Cy Aridio and Bowie Ezio (born in 2014) and their youngest, Zen Anton Hilario (born in 2016). If you think their house follows traditional "mom and dad" roles, you’d be wrong.
Zoe has been super open about how they run a gender-neutral environment. Marco does tasks traditionally seen as "female," and Zoe handles things like fixing the TV or DIY repairs. They want their boys to grow up seeing that a man can be an artist and a caregiver, and a woman can be the "handyman" and the breadwinner.
- The Kids: They are growing up trilingual, speaking Italian, Spanish, and English.
- The Vibe: It’s a household where vulnerability is treated as a superpower.
- The Location: They recently moved to a $17.5 million mansion in Montecito, making them neighbors with people like Prince Harry and Oprah.
Professional Collaboration
They aren't just partners at home; they work together. Marco directed the 2023 film The Absence of Eden, which Zoe starred in. It was a gritty look at immigration, a topic they both care about deeply since Marco went through the U.S. citizenship process himself (he was sworn in back in 2016).
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Zoe has often said that seeing Marco on set is when he’s at his "sharpest." She doesn't just love him; she respects him as a creator. It’s rare to see a Hollywood couple collaborate on heavy, independent projects without it becoming a total mess, but they seem to thrive on it.
What We Can Learn From Their Relationship
The biggest takeaway from Marco and Zoe isn't the fame or the Montecito house. It’s the fact that they ignored every "rule" about how a high-profile marriage is supposed to work.
They got married fast because it felt right. He took her name because he wanted to. They raise their kids without strict gender roles because they believe it makes them better humans.
Next Steps for Fans and Followers:
If you want to understand Marco’s vision better, look up his 2024 short film Dovecote or his work at the Venice Biennale. He isn't just "Zoe Saldaña’s husband"—he’s a creator who used a career-ending injury to reinvent himself entirely. For anyone feeling stuck in a career or a personal rut, his "vibration" philosophy and willingness to start over in a new country is a pretty solid blueprint for resilience.
Keep an eye on his upcoming production Days of Abandonment. It's likely to show more of that surreal, emotional edge that made him a star in the New York art scene long before he ever met an Avenger.