Zoe Saldana, 44, is playing a student half her age in new Netflix series

Guardians of the Galaxy star Zoe Saldana has taken on the role of a woman nearly half her age in a new Netflix series inspired by a real life memoir. See a snippet of her impressive performance below:

The American actor is well-known for her role as Gamora in the popular Marvel films, but she takes fans on a much more emotional journey in Netflix's new show where she portrays the character of Amahle 'Amy' Wheeler.

Amy is based on the memoir's author, Tembi Locke, and is introduced in the series as a recent Brown University graduate who has just arrived in Florence, Italy to study abroad.

She's enrolled in an art programme, but her story turns into one of romance after she meets Lino (Eugenio Mastrandrea), a young Sicilian chef.

Amy's story is told in From Scratch across eight episodes, each lasting around 50-55 minutes which are now available to watch on Netflix, and has already been praised by viewers for its 'beautiful' plot.

Taking to Twitter to gush over the series, one person wrote: "From Scratch on Netflix is an absolutely beautiful and complex love story. Not a rom com. Two people falling in love. Family bonds. Sibling bonds. Father/son drama. Wounds of divorce. Cultural differences. Anti-blackness . Illness. Navigating adoption. Accepting loss."

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"Who has watched #fromscratchnetflix?," another questioned, adding: "My f*cking goodness. I feel like my heart was put in a washer. let me go sleep now. I'm tired. Recommend."

Another adoring viewer wrote: "From Scratch on Netflix is the most amazing and passionate series I've ever seen! I cried, laughed, and cried some more. You could feel the love, pain, happiness, & grief through the screen. Everyone was amazing! The story is so poignant! Made me hug my hubby much tighter!"

Storyline aside, among another of the impressive aspects of the series is the fact that Saldana passes without question for someone in their early-mid twenties, despite being almost double that age.

The actor was born on 19 June, 1978 in Passaic, New Jersey, and was in her early twenties when she earned her first acting credits in Law and Order in 1999, and Center Stage in 2000.

The story told in From Scratch comes after Tembi met real-life chef Gullo in Italy. The pair fell in love, but sadly faced some bumps in the road when members of Gullo's members did not approve of his decision to be with Tembi.

Later in life, Tembi and her daughter return to Sicily in honour of Gullo.