(Mark Von Holden / The Academy
Copyright ©A.M.P.A.S.)
While accepting her first Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role in “Emilia Pérez,” a tearful Zoe Saldaña spoke about her family, many of whom were in the room at the Dolby Theatre to witness the moment.
“Mami! Mami!” an emotional Saldaña called out. “My mom is here. My whole family is here. I am floored by this honor. Thank you to the Academy for recognizing the quiet heroism and the power in a woman like Rita. And speaking of powerful women—my fellow nominees—the love and community you have offered me is a true gift, and I will pay it forward.”
Saldaña continued, “I am a proud child of immigrant parents—with dreams, dignity, and hardworking hands.”
She also emphasized the importance of winning an Oscar for a role in which she performed in Spanish. “My grandmother came to this country in 1961,” Saldaña said. “If she were here, she would be so delighted by this.”
With this win, Saldaña becomes the second Afro-Latina to win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, following Puerto Rican actress Ariana DeBose, who won in 2022 for “West Side Story.”
Saldaña accepted the award from Da’Vine Joy Randolph, last year’s winner in the same category, who praised her performance, saying, “You took us on a journey—one that made us question the very limits we put on ourselves. And then you showed us exactly how to break them. You are fearless, and it is so inspiring to watch.”
The win adds to Saldaña’s remarkable awards season, which included victories at the Golden Globes, British Academy Film Awards, Critics’ Choice Awards, and the Screen Actors Guild Awards. She emerged as an early front-runner in the Best Supporting Actress race and was among several first-time nominees, including Monica Barbaro for “A Complete Unknown,” Ariana Grande for “Wicked,” and Isabella Rossellini for “Conclave.” Felicity Jones, nominated for her role in “The Brutalist,” was the only nominee with prior Oscar recognition, having been nominated in 2015.
An emotional Saldaña, in previous acceptance speeches, credited “Emilia Pérez” as a film about identity and love. “I’ve never been questioned about where I come from or judged by how I speak or what my pronouns are. I believe that everybody has the right to be who they are, and ‘Emilia Pérez’ is about truth and love,” she said while accepting Best Supporting Actress at the Screen Actors Guild Awards. “As actors, now more than ever, we must tell stories that are beautiful, thought-provoking, and live within the spectrum of artistic freedom.”
With a career spanning nearly 25 years, Saldaña is known for her roles in major franchises, including playing Uhura in “Star Trek,” Neytiri in “Avatar,” and Gamora in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Reflecting on her journey, she acknowledged the challenges she has faced throughout her career.
“I think about every time I went after a part and didn’t get it,” she said backstage. “If I don’t act, if I don’t create art, then who am I? It’s not about the win. When you learn to let that go, you realize it’s about the work—day in and day out. The day you do win, you have a deeper appreciation for it because you’ve valued every experience and every moment that led you here.”
In “Emilia Pérez,” Saldaña plays Rita Castro, a struggling lawyer hired by a Mexican drug lord to facilitate gender-affirming surgery. That drug lord transitions and becomes Emilia Pérez, played by Karla Sofía Gascón, the first openly transgender actor ever nominated for an Oscar.
Saldaña expressed her gratitude for being bilingual and for the opportunity to perform in Spanish. “The fact that I am receiving an award for a role where I got to sing and speak in Spanish—my grandmother, if she were here, she would be so delighted,” she said.
Jacques Audiard’s Spanish-language narco-musical led the night with 13 nominations but faced intense scrutiny. The film generated controversy after resurfaced offensive tweets from Gascón and received backlash for its portrayal of Mexican culture. Members of both the transgender community and Mexican audiences expressed strong emotions regarding the film’s subject matter.
During a backstage Q&A, one reporter challenged Saldaña about the film’s depiction of Mexico.
Q: Hello, Zoe. A lot has been said about this movie—about trans people and empowering women—but less has been said about Mexico, which is at the heart of it. What would you say about that, and also about the topic, which is deeply hurtful for many Mexicans?
A: [Zoe Saldaña] First of all, I’m very, very sorry that you and so many Mexicans felt offended. That was never our intention.
We spoke, and we came from a place of love, and I will stand by that. I don’t share your opinion.
For me, the heart of this movie was not Mexico. We weren’t making a film about a country—we were making a film about four women. These women could have been Russian, Dominican, African American from Detroit, from Israel, from Gaza.
They are universal women struggling every day against systemic oppression and trying to find their most authentic voices.
So, I will stand by that. But I’m also always open to sitting down with my Mexican brothers and sisters and having a great conversation about how “Emilia Pérez” could have been done better.
I welcome it.
