Mariel Saldaña Nazario: Meet Actress Zoe Saldana’s Sister

Mariel Saldaña Nazario is famously known as the elder sister of the American actress Zoe Saldana. Mariel is the co-founder of Cinestar Pictures, which she founded with her sisters. She has made a few appearances on red carpets alongside her siblings, Zoe and Cisley.

Mariel Saldaña is the sister of famous Hollywood actress Zoe Saldana. Her sister, Zoe has starred in some of the most iconic movies of all time and is one of the highest-grossing actresses in America. 

Mariel may not be as famous as her sister, but she launched a film production company with her sisters called Cinestar Pictures. 

She mostly lives a private life and has appeared in the media a few times with her sisters. 

In this article, we will explore Mariel’s early life, her parents, her famous sisters, their family bonds, her career, her net worth, and more.

Quick Bio

Full NameMariel Saldaña Nazario
Also called asMariel Saldaña
Famous asZoe Saldana’s Sister
ProfessionExecutive Producer at Cinestar Pictures
Date of BirthUnknown
Place of BirthPassaic, New Jersey, United States
Age45-50s
SpouseUnknown
ChildrenEli and Kasey
FatherAridio Saldaña
MotherAsalia Nazario
SiblingsZoe Saldana and Cisley Saldaña Nazario
Half-SiblingNipo Saldaña
GenderFemale
EthnicityMixed
NationalityAmerican
SexualityStraight
Eye ColorDark Brown
Hair ColorBlack
Net WorthUnknown

Early Life 

Mariel Saldaña Nazario was born in New Jersey and was raised in Jackson Heights, New York City. There is not much information available about her precise birthdate in the media. 

She is the daughter of Aridio Saldaña and Asalia Nazario. She was the eldest child of her parents and grew up alongside her younger siblings, Zoe Saldana and Cisley Saldaña Nazario. 

Mariel grew up in a tight-knit family. She hasn’t provided any details about her educational journey.

Age, Nationality, And Ethnicity

Mariel’s exact birthdate is not known which makes it harder to determine her age. But since her younger sister, Zoe Saldana is currently 45 years old, we can assume that Mariel must be in her late 40s or early 50s. 

Age, Nationality, And Ethnicity (1)
PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

He holds an American nationality. Mariel’s father was Dominican while her mother is Puerto Rican, she also has Lebanese and Haitian roots.

Mariel’s Tough Childhood

In 1987, Mariel’s father Aridio Saldaña passed away in a car accident. Mariel and her sisters were very young when this tragedy happened. 

After the incident, the family moved from the United States to the Dominican Republic to stay with their father’s family. 

There the children grew up in a very tough environment, while their mother stayed in back in New York. 

Mariel’s mother, Asalia Nazario worked long hours at multiple jobs to earn as much money as possible so that she could pay for her children’s private school fees. 

After many years, the family returned to New York and completed their education. 

Her Famous Sister: Zoe Saldana

Mariel’s sister, Zoe Saldana was born on June 19, 1978, in New Jersey, United States. Her full name is Zoë Yadira Saldaña Nazario, which reflects her Puerto Rican and Dominican roots. 

Zoe Saldana is undoubtedly one of the most famous actors in Hollywood. 

Her Famous Sister Zoe Saldana
PHOTO: THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

She has appeared in for of the most-grossing movies of all time, including “Avatar” its sequel “Avatar: The Way of Water,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” as well as “Avengers: Endgame.” 

She is the highest-grossing actress as of 2024. According to Times magazine, in 2023, Zoe Saldana was one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World

Some of her other notable projects include, “Star Trek,” “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” “The Adam Project,” and “Special Ops: Lioness.”

Who Is Her Other Sister?

Mariel’s other sister is Cisley Saldaña Nazario. Cisley is the youngest sister in the family. She is also an executive producer at Cinestar Pictures. Cisley is a very creative person. 

Cisley Saldaña Nazario (
PHOTO: PEOPLE.COM

Both of her sisters describe her to be very, loyal, kind, compassionate, and hardworking. She is a very important part of the family and is loved by everyone.

Bond Between Mariel And Her Sisters

Mariel Saldaña has had a very close bond with her sisters. All three of them grew up together and up till today are inseparable. 

Bond Between Mariel And Her Sisters
PHOTO: PEOPLE.COM

They have supported each other throughout difficult times of their lives as well as celebrated their achievements together. 

They have appeared on many red carpets together, such as the 2014 AOL Newfront at Duggal Greenhouse. 

The whole family was also present when Zoe Saldana was honored with a star on The Hollywood Walk Of Fame

In a world where most people lose connections with their loved ones, especially celebrities, their bond is very unique. All three of them cherish their bond dearly.

Her Children

Mariel Saldaña is the mother of two children, Eli and Kasey. Eli was born on May 12, 2003, while Kasey is currently five years old. Both of the children are well-loved by the family. 

Her Children
PHOTO: MARSALWEBB

Their aunt, Zoe loves to share their pictures and stories on her Instagram. Eli takes great interest in the film production process just like her mother while Kasey loves to explore art exhibitions. 

As for Mariel’s husband, there is not much information available about whom she married and whether they are still together or not.

Professional Journey

Mariel alongside her sister, Zoe and Cisley, launched a film production company and named it Cinestar Pictures

Professional Journey
PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

Mariel explained that they wanted to empower women by portraying them realistically and showing the love they share. 

They release “reality rom-coms,” that show the experiences of different women on dating adventures in different cities. 

They have also produced some traditional films like “The Honor List” in 2018 and other shows like “From Scratch” on Netflix and “Gordita Chronicles” on HBO Max.

Net Worth

Mariel’s net worth is hard to determine since details about her salary and assets have not been disclosed in the media. 

On the other hand, her sister, Zoe Saldana is estimated to have an impressive net worth ranging from $40 million to $60 million.

Celebrity Lifestyle Writers

Celebrity Lifestyle Writers

Our Celebrity Lifestyle Team is driven by passionate researchers who live and breathe the entertainment world. They leave no stone unturned, digging deep to track series of events, cross-check facts, and connect the dots to bring you authentic updates. From exclusive interviews with relevant insiders to insightful event analyses, they ensure every story is accurate and well-rounded. And on top of that, our team ensures that privacy is always respected while delivering accurate, ethical, and engaging content that readers can trust and enjoy.

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