Zoe Saldaña Wins BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress in 'Emilia Pérez'
Zoe Saldaña has won the BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the Netflix musical-thriller Emilia Pérez. The 46-year-old actress accepted the award at the 78th annual BAFTA ceremony, held at the Royal Festival Hall in London on 16 February 2025. In her emotional acceptance speech, Saldaña thanked her family, including her husband Marco Perego, whom she lovingly called “God’s favourite,” and her mother for her unwavering support. She also expressed gratitude to her co-stars and the crew, describing the film as a “creative challenge of a lifetime.”
Saldaña dedicated her win to her trans nephew, Eli, revealing that he was the reason she took on the role. Speaking to journalists backstage, she said, “I’m dedicating all of these awards and the film Emilia Pérez to my nephew, Eli. He is the reason — they are the reason — I signed up to do this film in the first place.” She added, “As the proud aunt of a trans life, I will always stand with my community of trans people.”
In Emilia Pérez, Saldaña plays Rita Mora Castro, a lawyer who assists a Mexican drug lord in transitioning into a woman. The film, directed by Jacques Audiard, received 11 BAFTA nominations, including Best Film and Best Director. Saldaña’s co-star, Karla Sofía Gascón, who made history as the first openly transgender acting nominee at several awards shows, was notably absent from the ceremony due to controversy surrounding past social media posts.
Saldaña triumphed in a competitive category that included Jamie Lee Curtis (The Last Showgirl), Selena Gomez (Emilia Pérez), Ariana Grande (Wicked), Felicity Jones (The Brutalist), and Isabella Rossellini (Conclave). This marks Saldaña’s first BAFTA win and nomination, further solidifying her status as a leading figure in the industry.
The actress also highlighted the importance of films in challenging minds and changing hearts, stating, “Voices need to be heard.” Her win adds to the accolades for Emilia Pérez, which has been a standout in this year’s awards season.
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