Meet Actress Zoe Saldaña Husband Marco Perego and 3 Kids

• Marco took Zoe’s last name after marriage as a progressive statement of partnership.
• The couple has three sons: twins Cy and Bowie, born in 2014, and Zen, born in 2017.
• They met on a flight in 2013 and married just a few months later in a private ceremony.
• Marco and the kids supported Zoe during her successful 2025 Oscar campaign for Emilia Pérez.
• They have matching tattoos of each other’s faces as a permanent symbol of their devotion.

Zoe Saldaña and her husband, Marco Perego Saldaña, have shared over a decade together, building a loving family and creative partnership. Marco, an Italian-born artist and filmmaker, met Zoe in 2013 on a New York-bound flight, a moment Zoe described as a powerful, inexplicable vibration.

Already familiar with Marco’s work since 2008, Zoe found an unexpected love that shifted her previously skeptical views on marriage, leading to their wedding and family life.

Marco Perego Saldaña’s Artistic Career and Background

Marco Perego Saldaña is an accomplished Italian artist with a fascinating personal history. He was born in March 1979 in Salò, Italy, into a humble family; his mother was a homemaker and his father worked as a waiter. His initial passion was professional soccer, and he was even tapped to play for Venice’s team, but a serious injury at age 21 redirected his path toward art.

He moved to New York, where he took on jobs like busboy and soccer teacher while focusing on his art. His big break came when film producer Gilda Moratti purchased one of his paintings, launching a career that now includes international exhibitions at prestigious venues like the Museum of Modern Art in Bologna and the Andy Warhol Museum. His works are part of major public collections, including the Museo Jumex in Mexico City and the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles.

Zoe Saldaña and Marco’s Whirlwind Love Story

The couple’s romance began with what Zoe describes as love at first sight. Their fateful meeting occurred on a 6:30 a.m. flight to New York in 2013. Zoe recalled feeling a distinct “vibration” upon seeing Marco from behind, a feeling he simultaneously felt, causing him to turn around. Despite both having previously vowed never to marry, their connection was immediate and profound.

Their relationship moved quickly after that. Marco secretly traveled to the Dominican Republic to ask her family’s permission for marriage, filming the entire event to show Zoe upon his return. Just three months after they began dating, the couple wed in a private ceremony in the summer of 2013.

The Saldaña Family’s Three Beautiful Sons

Zoe and Marco are proud parents to three boys, creating a lively and gender-fluid household. The family expanded first with the arrival of twin sons, Cy Aridio and Bowie Ezio, who were born on Thanksgiving Day in 2014. Their youngest brother, Zen Anton Hilario, completed the family when he was born in December 2016.

The couple often includes their children in special moments, bringing them to red carpet events like the premiere of Elio and the awards season for Emilia Pérez. In her 2025 Oscar acceptance speech, Zoe lovingly told Marco that he “hung the moon in our beautiful, perfect sons,” who “fill our skies every night with stars.” They are being raised in a gender-neutral environment where tasks are not assigned by traditional roles.

Marco Perego’s Decision to Take Saldaña’s Name

In a move that defied tradition, Marco chose to take Zoe’s last name after their marriage, making them Marco Perego Saldaña and Zoe Saldaña. Zoe herself tried to talk him out of it, warning him that he might be “emasculated by your community of artists, by your Latin community of men, by the world.” Marco’s now-famous response, delivered in his Italian accent, was, “Ah Zoe, I don’t give a shit.”

He wanted to honor being part of her family and represent her father’s legacy, respecting that Zoe shouldn’t have to give up her name simply because it was the norm. Their three children also share the Saldaña last name, solidifying this unique family identity.

A Supportive Partnership in Life and Art

The couple’s strong supportive partnership extends into their professional collaboration. Marco stepped into the role of writer and director for his first feature film, The Absence of Eden, a project about immigration that was produced by Martin Scorsese and starred Zoe. She expressed pride that he chose a subject focused on humanity, noting his dedication to honesty after spending two years researching along the border.

Their professional collaboration, while occasionally leading to disagreements (joked that he knows he’s in trouble when she speaks Spanish), is built on mutual respect. This support was especially visible during the 2025 awards season, where Marco was a constant, emotional presence at events leading to Zoe’s Oscar win.

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Last Updated on October 20, 2025 by 247 News Around The World