Zoe Saldana made history on Sunday by winning the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Emilia Perez, a psychedelic narco-musical that showcases her in a striking new light.
Known for her portrayal of the blue Na’vi princess in Avatar and the green-skinned assassin Gamora in the Guardians of the Galaxy films, Saldana fully embraced her Afro-Latina heritage in this film, where she spoke, sang, and even rapped in Spanish.
Zoe Saldana, 46, of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent, used her acceptance speech to celebrate her roots and the significance of her achievement.
“I am a proud child of immigrant parents with dreams and dignity and hardworking hands,” she said, becoming the first American of Dominican origin to win an Academy Award. “And I know I will not be the last.”
Her win was a hard-earned victory, defeating notable contenders such as Ariana Grande (Wicked), Isabella Rossellini (Conclave), Monica Barbaro (A Complete Unknown), and Felicity Jones (The Brutalist).
In Emilia Perez, Saldana portrays Rita, a Mexican lawyer whose life is dramatically altered when she is hired by a drug lord who wants to fake his death to undergo gender-affirming surgery.
The title character, Perez (played by Karla Sofia Gascon), starts a new life but ultimately tries to reconnect with her estranged family, leading to tragic consequences. Rita is drawn into the unfolding drama, and one of the film’s standout moments features Saldana rapping and dancing to the song “El Mal,” exposing the secrets of Mexico’s elite at a charity event.
Saldana, who has formal dance training, revealed that it was the opportunity to perform in Spanish that she had longed for.
“The opportunity never really came,” she said last year in an interview with Elle magazine, explaining how French director Jacques Audiard reworked the role, originally meant for a man, to fit her background.
Despite her success, Zoe Saldana expressed a desire for more than just franchise roles.
“I was very much like, ‘Well, that’s okay, I’m going to dance to the beat of my drum,'” she told Elle. “Then 15 years go by, and I’m yearning for that reconnection.” This new role in Emilia Perez offered her just that.
Looking ahead, Saldana is set to appear in Elio, a Disney/Pixar animated film slated for release in June as well as another Avatar film in December.
