Zoe Saldaña makes Dominican history

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Mon 3 March 2025 2:15, UK

Zoe Saldaña has made history by becoming the first American of Dominican origin to win an Academy Award.

The Guardians of the Galaxy actor won ‘Best Supporting Actress’ for her stirring performance in the embattled Emilia Pérez. It was her first-ever nomination, and as it led to her first win, her speech was understandably emotional and heartfelt, with the star nearly bursting into tears multiple times.

She thanked her director Jacques Audiard, the cast and crew of the film, although notably she didn’t thank her co-star Karla Sofia Gascon by name. The controversy surrounding her insensitive historical tweets has overshadowed everything about Emilia Perez’s Oscar run, so perhaps it wasn’t surprising that Saldaña failed to mention her.

Saldaña became most emotional when she spoke of her family, though. “Everything brave and outrageous and good I have ever done is because of you,” she said to her husband and children before spotlighting how she is “a proud child of immigrant parents with dreams and dignity.”

At this point, Saldaña noted that she is the “first American of Dominican origin to accept an Academy Award.” In fact, the Dominican Republic has never produced an actor who has been nominated for an Oscar, but Saldaña’s family ties to the country go back to her grandmother, who she mentioned in her speech as having come to America in the early ’60s.

Saldaña was always the frontrunner for the award, having won the Golden Globe, SAG Award, and Bafta for her performance. However, making history as the first actor of Dominican origin to triumph at the Oscars is sure to make this one all the sweeter.