Zoe Saldana won the Best Supporting Actress honor at the 2025 BAFTA Awards, for her role in the Spanish-language musical Emilia Pérez.
In her heartfelt acceptance speech, the 46-year-old actress honored her trans nephew, saying, “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. So as the proud aunt of a trans life, I will always stand with trans people.”
Co-star Karla Sofía Gascón was nominated for Best Actress but didn’t attend after racist tweets resurfaced last month.
However, Zoe still mentioned Karla in her acceptance speech, saying, “I want to thank my wonderful cast, Karla, Selena [Gomez], Adriana [Paz].”
Emilia Pérez, directed by Jacques Audiard, tells the story of a Mexican cartel leader who undergoes sex reassignment surgery to evade capture. The film has garnered critical acclaim for its portrayal of transgender themes and has sparked important conversations about representation in cinema.
FYI: Zoe is wearing Saint Laurent.
Browse through the gallery to see more photos of Zoe Saldana and husband Marco Perego at the BAFTAs…