Zoe Saldaña Breaks Down in Tears and Shouts Out to Her Mom as She Receives Her First Oscar: «I’m Completely Overwhelmed by This Honor»
Zoe Saldaña, 46, graced the stage at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, March 2, to accept the 2025 Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role in *Emilia Pérez*.
As she took the microphone, visibly emotional, Saldaña shouted, «Mami! Mami!» and waved at her mother through tears, before expressing her gratitude to the audience, saying, «My mom is here; my whole family is here.
I’m completely overwhelmed by this honor.»
In a heartfelt speech, she acknowledged her team and family, including her husband Marco Perego, humorously mentioning his «beautiful hair.»
She also shared a poignant reflection on her heritage, saying, «I am a proud child of immigrant parents, with dreams, dignity, and hardworking hands.
I am the first American of Dominican origin to receive an Academy Award, and I know I will not be the last. I hope.»
Saldaña entered the night as a favorite for Best Supporting Actress, having already triumphed at the Golden Globes, Critics Choice Awards, BAFTA Awards, and SAG Awards.
In Emilia Pérez, a Spanish-language musical and crime drama, she plays Rita, a lawyer helping the film’s protagonist undergo a gender-affirming surgery to escape a life as a cartel boss.
During her BAFTA acceptance speech on February 16, Saldaña dedicated her accolades to her nephew Eli, sharing, «He is the reason I signed up to do this film in the first place.
As a proud aunt of a trans life, I will always stand with my trans community.»
