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Actress Zoe Saldana won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for the 2024 pop musical film Emilia Perez. In her acceptance speech, she first thanked her mother, saying she was “floored by the honor.” Accepting the award, Saldana said:
“My grandmother came to this country in 1961. I am a proud child of immigrant parents, with dream and dignity and hardworking hands and I am the first American of Dominican origin to accept and Academy Award and I know I will not be the last.”
She continued:
“I hope the fact that I am 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.”
In an interview with Harper's Bazaar in January 2025, Zoe Saldana recalled losing her father. After that, her mother sent them to live with family in the Dominican Republic while she worked multiple jobs in the U.S. to support them.
The change was difficult as the girls had to speak only Spanish. They were even bullied for being different. Despite the struggles, they had each other's back.
During the late ’80s and early ’90s, Zoe Saldana and her sister Cisely competed against hundreds of other girls for spots in a prestigious dance academy. Though she initially dreamed of becoming a gymnast, she realized it was too late to start competitive training. Instead, ballet became an essential outlet, helping her find focus and discipline.
Zoe Saldana also won the SAG and Golden Globe Awards for Emilia Perez
In Emilia Perez, Zoe Saldana plays Rita Castro, a struggling lawyer hired by a Mexican drug lord to assist with gender-affirming surgery. Her performance also earned her a SAG Award.
In her acceptance speech, she expressed gratitude for being part of a union that embraces diversity. She felt this allowed her to be herself without judgment based on her background, speech, or identity.
Zoe Saldana also won the Golden Globe Award for the same role. According to Be Latina, people expressed their pride in her achievement. Milagros Germán, the former Dominican Republic’s Minister of Culture, praised her for representing the country in Hollywood, while designer Sócrates McKinney called her a symbol of Dominican excellence.
Zoe Saldana thanks the Academy for acknowledging her character in Emilia Perez
During her Oscar acceptance speech, Zoe Saldana expressed gratitude to the Academy for acknowledging the quiet strength of her character, Rita. She also thanked her fellow nominees for their support and sense of community.
Saldana credited director Jacques Audiard for his curiosity in telling the story and shared her award with the Emilia Perez cast and crew, Netflix, Why Not Productions, and YSL for their support. She also appreciated her team at CAA, her managers, and the women at The Lead Company for their guidance.
She gave a shoutout to her family, thanking her mother, father, and sisters for inspiring her bravery and boldness. She also expressed deep love for her husband, calling him the greatest honor of her life. Saldana remembered her children, who she described as the stars that light up their world.
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