(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Zoe Saldana says she was "in" as soon as she discovered Colombiana involved a revenge story.

The 33-year-old actress portrays Cataleya, a woman who becomes an assassin to avenge the murder of her parents in the action film.

Zoe was attracted to the film as soon as director Luc Besson explained the storyline.

"When Luc approached me to star in the movie, I asked what it was about. He said, It's as if Mathilde [from Leon] is all grown up and became an assassin.' That was it; I was in," she explained in an interview with Hip Hop Weekly.

"It hit all the beats of a classic revenge film, but it was also compelling and very moving."

Zoe had an arduous training schedule ahead of appearing in the movie. The beauty trained in martial arts disciplines in order to master combat scenes in her role.

She loved having the freedom to experiment with the character's strength.

"Her uncle's a thug in reality, so was her father and they worked for the organisation, more Mafioso, so her level of training was less graceful and more animal and volatile," she described.

"She was like a Molotov cocktail; her uncle taught her what he knew and that is why I couldn't look like I trained from the navy, her background gave me more room to find my own way and my own rhythm with guns and knives." (C) Cover Media