After receiving her first Oscar, actress Zoe Saldaña broke down in tears
When Zoe Saldana accepted the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role on Sunday, she started crying.
The 46-year-old actress said she was “blown away” to win the Oscar for “Emilia Perez,” beating out Monica Barbaro (‘A Complete Unknown’), Ariana Grande (‘Wicked’), Felicity Jones (‘The Brutalist’), and Isabella Rossellini (‘Conclave’). She also expressed her pride at being the “first American of Dominican origin” to win at the ceremony in an emotional speech that honored her family.
She remarked while performing at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles: “Mommy! Mommy! My entire family, including my mother, is present. I am blown away by this recognition.
“I am grateful to the Academy for acknowledging the silent bravery and strength of a woman like Rita and for discussing strong women. I will return the love and support you have given me, my fellow candidates. Much obliged.
“You will always be a special place in my heart, Jacques Audiard. I appreciate you taking the time to convey this story and being so interested in these women.
“This award is being shared with my cast and crew of Emilia Perez.”Thank you for your support, Bella, Ted, Netflix, Why Not Productions, and YSL. To my incredible team at CAA, my incredible managers and attorneys, and the strong women of the lead company, I am grateful for your leadership and for consistently responding to my emails, even in the wee hours of the morning.
Then, when she talked about her family, Zoe, who is married to Marco Perego and has twins Cy and Bowie, both of whom are ten, and Zen, who is eight, became more expressive.
“To my parents and sisters, thank you so much for everything brave, outrageous, and good that I have ever done in my life,” she continued.
Additionally, my husband, you have gorgeous hair, and you’re just Being my partner is the greatest privilege I have ever experienced. In Zen and Cy Bowie, our lovely sons, you hung the moon. They bring stars into our skies every night.
As the first American of Dominican descent to get an Academy Award, I am proud to be the proud child of immigrants with aspirations, dignity, and hard work. My grandmother arrived in this country in 1961, and I am confident that I won’t be the last. I’m hoping my grandma would be overjoyed that I’m receiving an award for a role that allowed me to sing and speak Spanish if she were present. Many thanks.
