Zoe Saldaña Reveals She TookEmilia PérezRole for Trans Nephew as She Dedicates Awards to Him

Mar. 15, 2025

Zoe Saldaña in the BAFTA Awards winners' press room in London on Feb. 16, 2025.Photo:Samir Hussein/WireImage

Samir Hussein/WireImage

Zoe Saldañatook her award-winning role inEmilia Pérezfor a very personal reason.

Afterclinching the supporting actresstrophy at the 78thBritish Academy Film and Television Arts Awards(BAFTA) on Sunday, Feb. 16, the actress revealed during a press conference in the winners room that she took the role of Rita Mora Castro in honor of her nephew Eli, who is transgender.

“I am dedicating all of these awards and the filmEmilia Perezto 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.”

“So as a proud aunt of a trans life, I will always stand with my community of trans people,” she added.

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Zoe Saldaña inEmilia Pérez(2024).Shanna Besson/PAGE 114

Shanna Besson/PAGE 114

Emilia Pérez, from French filmmakerJacques Audiard, netted 11 total BAFTA nominations, winning both supporting actress for Saldaña as well as in the category of film not in the English language.

Her costar Gascón, 52, was not in attendance at the BAFTAs following recentcontroversyover herresurfaced social media postscriticizing Muslim culture,George Floyd, diversity and more.

The Spanish star, who made history as thefirst openly transgender acting nomineeat several awards shows,deactivated her X accounton Jan. 31, and apologized after makingvariousstatementsthat drew backlash.

Zoe Saldaña wins for supporting actress at the BAFTA Awards in London on Feb. 16, 2025.Stuart Wilson/BAFTA/Getty

Stuart Wilson/BAFTA/Getty

“I want to thank my mom for being such a selfless person. Thanks to you, I’m able to do anything I want,” Saldaña continued, before shouting out longtime loveMarco Perego: “My husband, you are God’s favorite and I hate it — but you are so beautiful!”

source: people.com