Zoe Saldaña made history at the 2025 Oscars, winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her outstanding performance as an attorney for a cartel leader in Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Pérez. During her heartfelt acceptance speech, Saldaña took a moment to pay tribute to the incredible cast and crew of Emilia Pérez, as well as her own family, expressing deep gratitude and emotion for the opportunity to portray such a powerful and complex character.
In her speech, Saldaña expressed her immense thanks to the Academy for recognizing her role as Rita, a quiet yet powerful woman who represents the strength of women everywhere. “Thank you to the Academy for recognizing the quiet heroism and the power in a woman like Rita,” Saldaña said, before turning her focus to the director of Emilia Pérez, Jacques Audiard. “Jacques, you are a beloved character in my life. Thank you for taking the interest, thank you for being so curious about these women to tell this story.” She also made sure to acknowledge the dedication and talent of her fellow cast members, stating, “To my cast and my crew of Emilia Pérez, I’m sharing this award with you.”
Saldaña then spoke from the heart about her family, particularly her grandmother, who had immigrated to the United States in 1961. As she tearfully reflected on her roots, she shared, “My grandmother came to this country in 1961 — I am a proud child of immigrant parents,” further adding, “With dreams and dignity and hard-working hands, and I am the first American of Dominican origin to accept an Academy Award, and I know I will not be the last. I hope.” She continued by expressing how much this moment would have meant to her late grandmother, particularly given the fact that she was accepting the award for a role in which she spoke and sang in Spanish. “The fact that I’m getting 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, this is for my grandmother,” she said, her voice filled with emotion.
In addition to her Oscar win, Saldaña’s portrayal in Emilia Pérez earned her several other prestigious awards, including the SAG Award for Best Supporting Actress, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe, and a Critics’ Choice Award. Her performance was so powerful that she shared the Best Actress award at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival with her co-stars Selena Gomez, Adriana Paz, and Karla Sofia Gascón, further cementing her place as one of Hollywood’s most talented and versatile actresses.
Emilia Pérez was one of the most nominated films at the 2025 Academy Awards, with 13 nominations, the highest of any film that year. Despite this recognition, the Spanish-language musical faced its fair share of controversies during the awards season. Gascón, who was nominated for Best Actress, faced backlash due to offensive tweets, leading to public apologies. Additionally, Jacques Audiard was criticized for comments about the Spanish language, calling it the language of “poor people and migrants” and for his failure to properly understand the intricacies of Mexican culture and trans representation, which sparked significant debate.
At the Oscars, Saldaña found herself competing against a star-studded list of nominees in the Best Supporting Actress category, including Monica Barbaro for A Complete Unknown, Isabella Rossellini for Conclave, Felicity Jones for The Brutalist, and Ariana Grande for Wicked. Despite the fierce competition, Saldaña’s powerful performance ultimately earned her the prestigious honor.
Known for her roles in some of the most successful films of all time, including Avatar, Avatar: The Way of Water, and Avengers: Endgame, Zoe Saldaña has solidified her place as a Hollywood icon. She is currently starring in the action-packed series Lioness on Paramount+, where she has earned a nomination for an NAACP Image Award for her portrayal. Her continued success in both film and television highlights her incredible range as an actress and her dedication to bringing dynamic and meaningful characters to life on screen.
