Los Angeles – In a landmark moment at the 97th Academy Awards, Zoe Saldaña became the first American of Dominican descent to win an Oscar, taking home the Best Supporting Actress trophy for her role in Netflix’s Emilia Pérez.
Saldaña, known for her roles in blockbuster franchises like Avatar and Guardians of the Galaxy, delivered a heartfelt acceptance speech at the Dolby Theatre, where she paid tribute to her family and heritage.
“My grandmother came to this country in 1961,” she said, holding back tears. “I am a proud child of immigrant parents, with dreams and dignity and hard-working hands. I am the first American of Dominican origin to accept an Academy Award, and I know I will not be the last.”
She expressed her joy at receiving the award for a role that allowed her to perform in Spanish, stating, “My grandmother, if she were here, she’d be so delighted. This is for her.”
Saldaña’s historic win was part of a night filled with diversity and milestone achievements. The Brutalist star Adrien Brody became the first actor to win Best Actor twice, while Paul Tazewell became the first Black man to win an Oscar for costume design for his work on Wicked. Additionally, Flow became the first Latvian film to win Best Animated Feature.
The 97th Academy Awards, hosted by comedian Conan O’Brien and aired on ABC, celebrated a year of outstanding cinematic achievements. In the Best Picture category, Anora emerged victorious, besting competitors like Dune: Part Two, Emilia Pérez, and Wicked.
Saldaña’s win further solidifies her status as one of Hollywood’s most influential and accomplished actresses. Having starred in four of the six highest-grossing films of all time, she continues to break barriers and inspire generations of Latino and immigrant artists.
With this milestone, Saldaña not only secures her place in Oscar history but also paves the way for future talent from diverse backgrounds to shine on Hollywood’s biggest stage.
Full list of 2025 Oscar winners:
Best supporting actor: Kieran Culkin, “A Real Pain”
Best animated feature: “Flow”
Best animated short: “In the Shadow of the Cypress”
Best costume design: Paul Tazewell, “Wicked”
Best original screenplay: Sean Baker, “Anora”
Best adapted screenplay: Peter Straughan, “Conclave”
Best makeup and hairstyling: Pierre-Olivier Persin, Stéphanie Guillon and Marilyne Scarselli, “The Substance”
Best editing: Sean Baker, “Anora”
Best supporting actress: Zoe Saldana, “Emilia Pérez”
Best production design: Nathan Crowley and Lee Sandales, “Wicked”
Best original song: “El Mal” from “Emilia Pérez”
Best documentary short: “The Only Girl in the Orchestra”
Best documentary feature: “No Other Land”
Best sound: “Dune: Part Two”
Best visual effects: “Dune: Part Two”
Best live-action short: “I’m Not a Robot”
Best cinematography: Lol Crawley, “The Brutalist”
Best international feature: “I’m Still Here” (Brazil)
Best original score: Daniel Blumberg, “The Brutalist”
Best actor: Adrien Brody, “The Brutalist”
Best director: Sean Baker, “Anora”
Best actress: Mikey Madison, “Anora”
Best picture: “Anora”