The Avatar franchise has become one of the biggest sci-fi marvels of the world in the last 16 years, and it would undoubtedly not be held in the same regard if not for Zoe Saldaňa’s performance as Neytiri. Saldaňa’s Neytiri is a staple in both of James Cameron’s first two Avatar movies, and she is expected to continue to have a large role in Avatar: Fire and Ash and beyond. Neytiri is the audience’s conduit to learn more about the forests of Pandora in the first movie — we’re also learning as she teaches Jake (Sam Worthington) — and during a recent sit down with Deadline for The Actor’s Side video series, Saldaňa spoke about what it has meant to her to be part of the Avatar franchise, as well as how long it will have ultimately taken to see it through from start to finish: