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Zoe Saldaña’s unstoppable success continues as she racks up yet another accolade in this year’s awards season. Winning the SAG Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Rita in 'Emilia Pérez' adds to an already stellar list of achievements, including the Golden Globe, Critics’ Choice, and BAFTA. With these major honors in hand, she’s now the clear frontrunner for the Oscar next month.
© Matt WinkelmeyerAt the ceremony, Saldaña claimed the Best Supporting Actress title, besting a field of standout nominees—among them fellow Oscar contenders Monica Barbaro (A Complete Unknown) and Ariana Grande (Wicked). The category also included Jamie Lee Curtis (The Last Showgirl) and Danielle Deadwyler (The Piano Lesson).
© Matt WinkelmeyerUpon accepting the award from Keke Palmer and Colman Domingo, Saldaña said with excitement: "To be in this room is a true honor. This is my community. This is my circus. Thank you to SAG and AFTRA. Thank you to my fellow nominees...It was an honor to watch your performances this year. I was deeply moved."
She went on to thank her fellow nominees but noticeably did not mention her Emilia Pérez co-stars, including Selena Gomez, Karla Sofía Gascón, or director Jacques Audiard.
"I am proud to be a part of a union that allows me to be who I am, and I’ve never been questioned about where I come from or judged by how I speak or what my pronouns are."
© Jeff KravitzVisibly moved, the actress continued her words, emphasizing the importance of creative freedom.‘I believe that everyone has the right to be who they are, and Emilia Pérez is about truth and love. Now more than ever, we as actors must tell stories that are beautiful, that invite reflection and that exist within the spectrum of artistic freedom.’
© Michael BucknerShe also used the moment to reflect on her early days in the industry, recalling when she first acquired her SAG card:
"I got my first SAG card in 1998, and I didn’t even know what SAG was, and I am grateful that my mother and my father and my sisters looked it up and helped me educate myself on what it means to be a part of a union that protects me so that I can make a living out of this crazy, crazy industry..."
Throughout her career, Saldaña has demonstrated her talent and versatility in the industry, and she is now living a moment in which she’s reaping the fruits of years of work in Hollywood.Although controversy has accompanied part of Emilia Pérez’s path, her performance continues to shine with its own light, leaving no doubt that her presence in the industry is stronger than ever.
© Jeff Kravitz"Emilia Pérez is about truth and it is about love, and I think that us as actors—now more than ever before—we really have to tell stories that are beautiful and thought-provoking and live within the spectrum of artistic freedom."
With the Oscar ceremony fast approaching, only time will tell if her name will be called at the Dolby Theatre on March 2nd —an achievement that would mark a new high point in her already impressive career.
