Zoe Saldana has revealed she was "dying inside" as a young dancer.

The Avatar star says she did not find the art form fulfilling leading her to seek another outlet for her craft.

Speaking to Cosmopolitan for Latinas, the 33-year-old beauty said she realised that dancing wasn't for her and she had to make a change.

"I had to quit ballet because it felt like a part of me was dying inside," she told the publication. "It takes a lot of courage to face up to things you can't do because we feed ourselves so much denial."

"In dance, you use every part of your body except your voice. I wanted to start acting because I wanted to use my voice."

Zoe is the first woman to grace the cover of the magazine and says she's very proud of her heritage.

"People think of Latina women as being fiery and fierce, which is usually true," she shared. "But I think the quality that so many Latina possess is strength. I'm very proud to have Latin blood.

Zoe is currently filming the next Star Trek sequel and will be on screens again in The Words opposite ex-boyfriend Bradley Cooper and Olivia Wilde.