Hollywood actress Zoë Saldana won her first-ever Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Emilia Pérez on Monday morning. As she accepted the trophy, she became emotional, looking towards her mother in the audience with tears of joy.
“I am so happy and honored,” Saldana said, dedicating her win to her fellow nominees and the film industry. “I will always be grateful for this moment.”
She thanked the Emilia Pérez team and everyone she worked with, but she became even more emotional while speaking about her family. “Everything brave, honorable, and good I have done in my life is because of you,” she said, appreciating her husband, his “beautiful hair,” and their three sons.
Saldana also expressed pride in her immigrant roots. “My grandmother first came to this country in 1961. I am proud to be the daughter of immigrant parents,” she said, receiving loud applause from the audience.
Some international media interpreted her speech as a subtle message directed at the current Trump administration. “I am the first American of Dominican descent to receive an Academy Award, and I know I will not be the last,” she added.
She also highlighted the importance of language diversity in cinema. “I received this award for a film in which I sang and spoke in Spanish. This win is for my grandmother,” she said.
Zoë Saldana is widely known for her roles in blockbuster films like Avatar and has now made history with her Oscar win.
