Zoe Saldaña dedicates ‘Emilia Pérez’ BAFTA Win to nephew
Zoe Saldaña is proud to share her newest achievement together with her trans nephew.
After bagging the BAFTA Award for Finest Supporting Actress, Saldaña made a heartfelt dedication, honoring each her win and the movie Emilia Pérez to her trans nephew, Eli.
Though she didn’t have the possibility to say it throughout her acceptance speech, Saldaña shared her sentiments with journalists within the winners’ room, emphasizing how private this challenge was for her.
“One last thing that I didn’t get to say on stage,” she stated, as per Selection.
“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 my community of trans people.”
In Emilia Pérez, a Spanish-language crime musical, Saldaña portrays Rita Mora Castro, a lawyer who aids a Mexican cartel chief in acquiring gender-affirming surgical procedure.
This marks her first BAFTA win and likewise her first-ever nomination from the British Academy of Movie and Tv Arts. Moreover, she is nominated for an Oscar in the identical class.
The movie itself was a serious contender on the 2024 BAFTAs, incomes 11 nominations, together with Finest Movie, Finest Director, Finest Main Actress for Karla Sofía Gascón, and Finest Supporting Actress for Selena Gomez. Whereas each Saldaña and Gomez attended the ceremony, Gascón was absent following controversy over resurfaced racist tweets.
Regardless of the absence, Saldaña nonetheless acknowledged her co-stars in her speech, saying, “I want to thank my wonderful cast, Karla, Selena, Adriana… Films are supposed to change hearts and challenge minds. And I hope that Emilia Pérez did something like this, please, because voices need to be heard.”
With Emilia Pérez making waves within the awards circuit, Saldaña’s dedication underscores the movie’s highly effective message and private significance.