After winning the BAFTA Award for best supporting actress, “Emilia Pérez” star Zoe Saldaña dedicated the prize — and the film itself — to her trans nephew.
Though she didn’t have time to make the dedication during her speech, Saldaña mentioned to journalists in the winners’ room that there was “one last thing that I didn’t get to say on stage.”
“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,” she said. “So as the proud aunt of a trans life, I will always stand with my community of trans people.”
In the Spanish-language crime musical, Saldaña played Rita Mora Castro, a lawyer who helps a Mexican cartel leader gain access to gender-affirming surgery. This marks Saldaña’s first BAFTA win, as well as her first nomination from the British awards body. She’s also up for an Oscar in the same category.
“Emilia Pérez” received the second-most nominations at this year’s BAFTAs, nabbing 11 total including best film, director, leading actress Karla Sofía Gascón and supporting actress for Selena Gomez. Though Saldaña and Gomez were present at the BAFTAs ceremony, Gascón did not attend after past racist tweets resurfaced in recent weeks.
However, Saldaña still thanked Gascón in her acceptance 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.”
Saldaña emerged victorious in a stacked category that, besides her co-star Gomez, also included Ariana Grande for “Wicked,” Felicity Jones for “The Brutalist,” Jamie Lee Curtis for “The Last Showgirl” and Isabella Rossellini for “Conclave.”
From Variety US