Zoe Saldana left in tears as she makes history and scoops up coveted gong
Emilia Pérez actress Zoe Saldana struggled to hold back tears as she accepted a gong for Best Supporting Actress at the 96th Academy Awards
Hollywood actress Zoe Saldana was seen weeping on stage after winning a Best Supporting Actress Oscar. The star shared a tearful tribute to her husband and sons as she made history on stage. The actress, 46, who took home the gong for her performance in Emilia Pérez, yelled out for her "mummy" as she looked around and began to tear up then spotted her in the crowd and waved while saying "my mum is here".
"Thank you to the Academy for recognising the quiet heroism and the power in a woman and talking about powerful women. my fellow nominees, the powerful community that you have offered me is a true gift and I will pay it forward. Thank you so much," she gushed to rapturous applause. She thanked her cast, crew, Netflix and everyone else that she worked with before adding: "To my mum, my dad and my sisters," but was seen breaking down as she named them. Through tears, she continued: "Everything brave, outrageous and good that I've ever done in my life is because of you. Thank you so much.
"And to my husband, with that beautiful hair. The biggest privilege in my life is being your partner. You hung the moon in our beautiful, perfect sons.”
She went on to discuss her pride in being the first American of Dominican origin to accept an Academy Award: "My grandmother came to this country in 1961. I am a proud child of immigrant parents
"With dreams, and dignity and hard working hands and I am the first American of Dominican origin to accept an Academy Award and I know I will not be the last. I hope!
"The fact that I am getting an award for a role that I got to sing and speak in Spanish, my grandmother, if she were here, she would be so delighted. This is for my grandmother."
Fans online were also brought to tears by the heartfelt speech as they applauded her authenticity. “Zoe Saldana, that’s a great acceptance speech!” said one fan.
Another penned: "Mommy! Mommy!" Zoe Saldana is proof that no matter the age or accomplishment -- you always want to find your mom”
Also nominated in this year's Best Supporting Actress category were Monica Barbaro (A Complete Unknown), Ariana Grande (Wicked), Felicity Jones (The Brutalist) and Isabella Rossellini (Conclave).
Heading into the Academy Awards, Saldana was highly anticipated to clinch the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, bolstered by her previous wins at the Golden Globes, Critics Choice, BAFTA, and SAG Awards.
In the film, a Spanish-language musical intertwined with crime drama elements, Saldana plays Rita, a lawyer tasked with aiding the film's protagonist in securing gender-affirming surgery to break free from a life dominated by cartel influence.
During her BAFTA acceptance speech on February 16, Saldaña dedicated her string of accolades to her nephew Eli. "He is the reason, they are the reason, I signed up to do this film in the first place," she expressed.
As a supportive aunt within the trans community, she affirmed her ongoing commitment: "I will always stand with my community of trans people."