Zoë Saldaña delivered an emotional speech after making history at the 2025 Oscars.
The 46-year-old actress made history at the 97th Academy Awards by becoming the first American of Dominican heritage to win an award.
The Emilia Pérez star took home the Best Supporting Actress trophy for her role as Rita Mora Castro, a defense lawyer entangled in the world of a cartel leader in Emilia Pérez.
Overwhelmed with emotion, Saldaña took the stage and delivered a heartfelt acceptance speech. She dedicated her win to her fellow cast and crew, as well as her beloved grandmother.
“I am floored… Thank you to the Academy for recognizing the quiet heroism and the power in a woman like Rita,” she said.
She also praised director Jacques Audiard, saying: “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,” adding: “To my cast and my crew of Emilia Pérez. I’m sharing this award with you.”
The Guardians of the Galaxy star then turned her attention to her loved ones, telling them: “Everything brave, outrageous, and good that I’ve ever done in my life is because of you.”
She also took a moment to honor her husband, Marco Perego-Saldaña, calling him the “biggest honor” of her life. “You hung the moon in our beautiful, perfect sons, Cy, Bowie, and Zen. They fill our skies every night with stars,” she said.
Saldaña concluded her speech by dedicating her win to her grandmother and reflecting on the sacrifices made by her family.
“I am a proud child of immigrant parents. 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 said.
“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 shared.
The win marks Saldaña’s first Oscar. She faced tough competition in the category, which also included Monica Barbaro (A Complete Unknown), Isabella Rossellini (Conclave), Felicity Jones (The Brutalist), and Ariana Grande (Wicked).
Meanwhile, Emilia Pérez entered the night with an impressive 13 nominations and secured two wins for Best Supporting Actress and Best Original Song for ‘El Mal,’ co-written by Clément Ducol, Camille, and Audiard.
