James Cameron Is 'So Happy' withAvatarStar Zoe Saldaña's Oscar Win: 'World-Class Performer'

Mar. 15, 2025

James Cameron; Zoe Saldaña.Photo:Rodin Eckenroth/Getty; Doug Peters/PA Images via Getty

Rodin Eckenroth/Getty; Doug Peters/PA Images via Getty

Zoe Saldaña’s Oscar glory was long overdue, according to herAvatardirectorJames Cameron.The Oscar-winningTitanicfilmmaker shared his reaction toSaldaña taking home the Best Supporting Actress prizeforEmilia Pérezat the Academy Awards on Sunday, March 2.“I was so happy to see Zoe acknowledged as the world-class performer we in theAvatarfamily have always known her to be,” Cameron, 70,toldVarietyin a statement.“Her acceptance speech was a noble reminderof what immigrant families bring to the U.S. and to Hollywood,” he added.Cameron has directed Saldaña in 2009’sAvatarand its sequel, 2022’sAvatar: The Way of Water. She reprises her role as the blue alien Neytiri in thenext installment,Avatar: Fire and Ash, in theaters December 2025.James Cameron and Zoe Saldaña.Chelsea Lauren/Variety/Penske Media via GettySaldaña, 46, said in January that Cameron was one of the first people to contact herafter her Golden Globe win forEmilia Pérezto congratulateher.She told reporters in the press room backstage on Jan. 5, “I was sitting in the audience and I received a message from James Cameron, who’s somewhere in New Zealand right now cuttingAvatar: Fire and Ash. And he, after all these years, believes in me.“The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!“That, to me, nourishes my desire to continue growing as an artist,” Saldaña added of Cameron’s continued support.Saldaña’s breakout role came in the 2000 filmCenter Stage, and she has since gone on to star in the highest-grossing film franchises of all time, includingAvatar, Marvel’sGuardians of the GalaxyandStar Trek.Zoe Saldaña on March 2, 2025.Kevin Winter/GettyNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.On Instagram the morning after her big Oscar night, the star wrote on Instagram, “Wow! Winning this award is truly surreal.““To be recognized among such incredibly talented women is an honor in itself, and to win forEmilia Pérez, a project that means so much to me, makes it even more special,” shewrote.“This journey has been deeply personal, and I’m so grateful to everyone who supported, believed in, and poured into this with me. Thank you to The Academy for this recognition and to my amazing peers for the inspiration. This moment is one I’ll cherish forever!”

Zoe Saldaña’s Oscar glory was long overdue, according to herAvatardirectorJames Cameron.

The Oscar-winningTitanicfilmmaker shared his reaction toSaldaña taking home the Best Supporting Actress prizeforEmilia Pérezat the Academy Awards on Sunday, March 2.

“I was so happy to see Zoe acknowledged as the world-class performer we in theAvatarfamily have always known her to be,” Cameron, 70,toldVarietyin a statement.

“Her acceptance speech was a noble reminderof what immigrant families bring to the U.S. and to Hollywood,” he added.

Cameron has directed Saldaña in 2009’sAvatarand its sequel, 2022’sAvatar: The Way of Water. She reprises her role as the blue alien Neytiri in thenext installment,Avatar: Fire and Ash, in theaters December 2025.

James Cameron and Zoe Saldaña.Chelsea Lauren/Variety/Penske Media via Getty

Chelsea Lauren/Variety/Penske Media via Getty

Saldaña, 46, said in January that Cameron was one of the first people to contact herafter her Golden Globe win forEmilia Pérezto congratulateher.

She told reporters in the press room backstage on Jan. 5, “I was sitting in the audience and I received a message from James Cameron, who’s somewhere in New Zealand right now cuttingAvatar: Fire and Ash. And he, after all these years, believes in me.”

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

“That, to me, nourishes my desire to continue growing as an artist,” Saldaña added of Cameron’s continued support.

Saldaña’s breakout role came in the 2000 filmCenter Stage, and she has since gone on to star in the highest-grossing film franchises of all time, includingAvatar, Marvel’sGuardians of the GalaxyandStar Trek.

Zoe Saldaña on March 2, 2025.Kevin Winter/Getty

Kevin Winter/Getty

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

On Instagram the morning after her big Oscar night, the star wrote on Instagram, “Wow! Winning this award is truly surreal.”

“To be recognized among such incredibly talented women is an honor in itself, and to win forEmilia Pérez, a project that means so much to me, makes it even more special,” shewrote.

“This journey has been deeply personal, and I’m so grateful to everyone who supported, believed in, and poured into this with me. Thank you to The Academy for this recognition and to my amazing peers for the inspiration. This moment is one I’ll cherish forever!”

source: people.com