It has been said that to have a lasting marriage, marry your best friend.

Zoe Saldana, who says she always felt “underestimated” by the men she dated, finally found a husband she can call her friend.

It apparently came as a surprise when the Rosemary’s Baby star married her long-time friend, artist Marco Perego in 2013. After all, they’d only been dating a few months when they decided to tie the knot. However, she married him because he made her feel very different from any other man she has dated.

“Zoe felt other guys she dated treated her like a trophy and underestimated her,” a friend revealed. “But Marco treats her as an equal.”

The “chase” for Perego’s affection was another draw for the actress.

“She says it was a challenge to win him over!” said the source.

Like many smart celebrities who value their privacy and wish to protect relationships, Zaldana rarely opens up about her life with Perego. The only comment she has ever made about her marriage was to announce the marriage in England and to say she is very happy.

She will talk about other people’s relationships however. She has said she has trouble understanding couples who decide to “take a break” when things get difficult. She believes it would be much better to realize it’s time to move on.

“I’m not one of these people who’s going, ‘Oh, because I was with someone for so long I need to take a break,'” she explained. “What if love is just around the corner?”

The 35-year-old actress was previously engaged to Keith Britton — a relationship that lasted 11 years. She also dated her The Words costar Bradley Cooper.

Image via Wikimedia Commons