If you picture a frazzled mom juggling juice boxes and coloring books while trying to walk a red carpet, think again. Zoe Saldaña just redefined "bring your kids to work day" and gave us the most wholesome red carpet moment of the year.
At the Los Angeles premiere of "Elio" on Tuesday, June 10, the 46-year-old actress stepped out with her three sons, 10-year-old twins Bowie and Cy, and 8-year-old Zen. The foursome looked like the stylish space crew we didn't know we needed.
Dressed in matching navy blazers, crisp white shirts, dark jeans, and sneakers, the boys were the definition of coordinated cool. Meanwhile, mom kept it sophisticated and chic in a brown turtleneck, mustard pencil skirt, brown heels, and a bold red lip.
This was a sweet, proud moment that revealed a lot about how Saldaña blends work and motherhood. And yes, in case you're wondering, she's definitely the mom getting all the cool points at school pick-up.
During a "Good Morning America" interview on June 4, Saldaña opened up about what it's like to bring her art into her kids' universe. Working on "Elio," an animated Disney sci-fi adventure geared toward young audiences, was a conscious move to connect with her sons on their level.
"Since becoming a parent, incorporating what I do — my art — into a genre that caters to children has always been a great interest to me," she said. "And I get to relate to them, and I also get some mad cool points as a mom."
Her boys are legitimately hyped about her work. Especially Zen, who, according to Saldaña, "cannot wait for Elio to come out."
What Elio Is All About (And Why It's Already Kid-Approved)
In "Elio," Saldaña stars in a heartwarming, intergalactic tale that revolves around a space-obsessed kid with a wild imagination. One day, he's mistaken for Earth's ambassador by aliens and finds himself on a whirlwind cosmic mission to figure out who he really is — and where he belongs.
"They immediately bought into the story," Saldaña shared of her sons' reactions. "I think that everybody can relate to the themes Elio talks about: feeling like an alien in your own skin, feeling like you don't belong... But longing to be a part of a community that accepts you and sees you for who you are."
Add to that Saldaña's co-stars, including Yonas Kibreab and Remy Edgerly, and direction from Coco co-director Adrian Molina, and you've got the perfect family flick with some emotional depth.
A Career Milestone Meets a Mom Moment
It's been a banner year for Saldaña. Back in March at the 2025 Oscars, she took home Best Supporting Actress for "Emilia Perez," marking a major career high. But the moment she wrapped up the awards whirlwind? She clocked back in as Mom, so no entourage was required.
"When the moment everything was over, I just really just wanted to go back home and just take my kids to school and be a little more present in their lives," she told PEOPLE. "They took this leap of faith with me — my whole family did — and I wanted to catch up on this time."
She added, "It's through their eyes that I'm able to understand the impact of being recognized for this [and] what it means for us and for anybody. It's just so great."
Sure, celebrities bring their kids to events all the time. But Saldaña's red-carpet outing with her boys was a celebration of family, connection, and shared passion.
With "Elio" hitting theaters on June 20, this premiere moment was a snapshot of a mom making memories with her kids in the middle of her creative journey.