Zoe Saldaña took home the Best Supporting Actress award at the 78th BAFTA Awards on February 16 for her role in Emilia Pérez. But for her, the win was about more than just recognition. It was deeply personal. In the winners’ room, she shared that she took on the role of Rita Mora Castro in honor of her transgender nephew, Eli.
“I am dedicating all of these awards and the film Emilia Pérez to my nephew, Eli,” Saldaña, 46, told reporters. “He is the reason, they are the reason, I signed up to do this film in the first place.”
She didn’t hold back in showing her love and support for the transgender community. “As a proud aunt of a trans life, I will always stand with my community of trans people.”
The Netflix crime musical, directed by Jacques Audiard, racked up 11 BAFTA nominations and won in two categories: Best Supporting Actress for Saldaña and Best Film Not in the English Language. The film follows Saldaña’s character, a lawyer helping a Mexican drug lord—played by Karla Sofía Gascón—transition into a woman.
A first-time BAFTA nominee, Saldaña is on a roll this awards season, already securing wins at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards for her performance.
Gascón, 52, was notably absent from the BAFTAs due to backlash over resurfaced social media posts where she criticized Muslim culture, George Floyd, and diversity efforts. The Spanish actress, who made history as the first openly transgender acting nominee at several award shows, later apologized and deactivated her X account on January 31.
At the BAFTA ceremony, hosted by David Tennant at London’s Royal Festival Hall, Saldaña delivered an emotional speech.
“I was told not to cry by my children, so I’m going to try,” she said with a smile. “This is so validating and a true honor.”
She called Emilia Pérez “a creative challenge of a lifetime” and thanked director Jacques Audiard, the film’s cast and crew, and her mother for always supporting her. Ending on a playful note, she turned to her husband, Marco Perego, and joked, “You are God’s favorite and I hate it—but you are so beautiful!”
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