Zoe Saldana doesn't just show up to movie sets alone. Usually, if you see her at a premiere for something like Avatar or Emilia Pérez, there's a literal squad behind her. We’re talking about a family dynamic that is so tight it’s almost scary. Honestly, the way Zoe, Cisely, and Mariel Saldana operate is more like a three-headed dragon than a group of siblings. They run a production company together, they raise their kids in a massive, trilingual bubble, and they’ve built a wall around their private lives that most paparazzi can’t even dent.
But people are nosy. Naturally. Everyone wants to know who the "other" Saldana sisters are and who they’re married to. It’s not just about the fame; it’s about how this Dominican-Puerto Rican family from Queens and the Dominican Republic managed to conquer Hollywood on their own terms.
The Saldana Sisterhood: Cisely and Mariel
Zoe is the middle child. Mariel is the oldest, and Cisely is the "baby" of the group, though if you ask Zoe, she'll tell you Cisely is the boss. They lost their father, Aridio Saldana, in a tragic car accident when Zoe was only nine. That kind of trauma either breaks a family or welds them together. For these three, it was the latter. Their mother, Asalia Nazario, moved them to the Dominican Republic to live with grandparents, and they basically became each other’s entire world.
Mariel Saldana is often described as the "mother hen" of the group. She helped raise the younger two. Today, she’s a producer and a key part of their company, Cinestar Pictures. While she’s frequently on the red carpet with Zoe, she keeps her personal life way more low-profile. She has two children, Eli and Kasey, but she isn't the type to splash her husband all over Instagram. She’s the anchor.
Then you have Cisely Saldana. She’s the powerhouse producer. If Zoe is the face, Cisely is the engine. She’s been the driving force behind projects like The Bluff and Gordita Chronicles. Cisely is known for being fiercely loyal and incredibly stubborn—a trait Zoe says has "saved lives" in the industry. She’s often seen at high-profile events, but like Mariel, she keeps the "husband" part of the equation out of the headlines. She’s focused on the work, and the work is booming.
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Marco Perego-Saldana: The Man Who Broke the Rules
Now, let’s talk about the husbands—specifically the one everyone knows. Zoe’s marriage to Marco Perego-Saldana is basically a movie script. They met on a flight to New York in 2013. It was 6:30 in the morning. Zoe didn't even see his face at first; she said she felt a "vibration" from behind. Marco felt it too. He turned around, and that was it.
They didn't wait. They got married three weeks after they decided to do it.
Marco is a former professional soccer player from Italy whose career was cut short by a leg injury at 21. He moved to New York, worked as a busboy, and eventually became a world-renowned artist and filmmaker. But here’s the kicker that set the internet on fire: Marco took Zoe’s last name.
He didn't care about "traditional" masculinity. When Zoe tried to warn him that the Latin community or the art world might judge him, he allegedly told her in his Italian accent, "Zoe, I don't give a sheet." That’s the kind of energy he brings to the family. They have three sons: twins Cy and Bowie, and a younger son named Zen. They are raising them to be trilingual (English, Spanish, and Italian).
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What Most People Get Wrong About Their Dynamic
There’s this misconception that Zoe’s sisters are just "hangers-on." That couldn't be further from the truth. In Hollywood, usually, the star is the sun and everyone else is a planet. With the Saldanas, they are a binary star system.
They created Cinestar Pictures because they were tired of waiting for good roles for Latinas. They decided to make the roles themselves. Mariel and Cisely aren't just "sisters of a celebrity"; they are executive producers with real skin in the game. When you look at zoe saldana sisters and husbands, you’re looking at a business empire as much as a family.
Why the Privacy Works
You won't find many "leaked" stories about Mariel’s or Cisely’s husbands. Why? Because the family operates on a "circle of trust" mentality. They protect their "nuclear family" fiercely. Zoe has mentioned in interviews that without her sisters and their partners, the whole thing would fall apart. They live close to each other, they vacation together, and they even share a specific philosophy on parenting that prioritizes anonymity for the kids.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Aspiring Creatives
If you’re looking at the Saldana family for inspiration, here is what you can actually take away from their "secret" success:
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- Build Your Own Table: Don't wait for the industry to give you a chance. Like the Saldana sisters, start your own production entity or collective with people you trust.
- Prioritize Shared Values: Marco taking Zoe’s name wasn't just a PR stunt; it was a reflection of their shared belief in equality. Find partners who align with your core values, not just your lifestyle.
- Keep the "Nuclear" Private: In an era of oversharing, the Saldanas prove that you can be a global superstar while keeping your sisters' husbands and your children’s daily lives out of the tabloids.
- Leverage Your Heritage: Use your background—whether it's Dominican, Italian, or anything else—as a creative superpower rather than something to hide.
The real story isn't about who has the most famous husband. It’s about how three sisters from Queens used their bond to ensure that none of them ever had to stand alone in a room full of sharks.
Next Steps to Understand the Saldana Empire
Check out the film The Absence of Eden, which Marco directed and Zoe starred in. It’s a perfect example of how their professional and personal lives intersect to create something meaningful. You can also follow Cinestar Pictures' upcoming slate to see how Cisely and Mariel are shaping the next generation of Latino storytelling.