The 46-year-old actress thanked SAG and AFTRA for the honour and also expressed her gratitude to fellow nominees.
Zoe Saldana won hearts for her role in Emilia Perez. (Photo Credits: Instagram)
Zoe Saldana is on the roll. The American actress has added yet another accolade to her list of achievements for her latest role in the Spanish crime drama Emilia Perez. This time, she secured the Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role at the 31st Annual Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards. During the star-studded ceremony, which took place on Sunday, February 23, at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles, Zoe delivered a heartfelt speech after receiving the award.
“To be in this room is a true honour. This is my community. This is my circus,” she began before expressing her gratitude to SAG-AFTRA and her fellow nominees. “Thank you to SAG and AFTRA, thank you to my fellow nominees, it was an honour to watch your performances this year. I was deeply moved,” Zoe added.
The 46-year-old actress reflected on her journey in the industry, sharing a touching anecdote. “I got my first SAG card in 1998, and I didn’t even know what SAG was, and I am grateful that my mother and my father and my sisters looked it up and helped me educate myself on what it means to be a part of a union that protects me so that I can make a living out of this crazy, crazy industry,” said Zoe, and took a moment to appreciate her “working family,” that included her agent and lawyers, who continue to educate and guide her.
One of the standout moments of her speech was when she emphasised financial education for actors and also used the platform to acknowledge her family and union. She said, “I want to also thank my family for just being beautiful and always supporting me. I’m proud to be part of a union that allows me to be who I am and I’ve never been questioned about where I come from and judged by how I speak or what my pronouns are.”
As Zoe wrapped up her speech, she highlighted the power of storytelling. Taking the example of Emilia Perez, she mentioned, “I believe that everybody has the right to be who they are and Emilia Pérez is about truth and it’s about love, and I think that us as actors now more than ever before we really have to tell stories that are beautiful and thought-provoking and live within the spectrum of artistic freedom.”
The 46-year-old actress was nominated alongside Monica Barbaro for A Complete Unknown, Jamie Lee Curtis for The Last Showgirl, Danielle Deadwyler for The Piano Lesson and Ariana Grande for Wicked. Her recent award comes after she took home the BAFTA and Golden Globe for her role as Rita Mora Castro in Emilia Perez, starring Karla Sofia Gascon and Selena Gomez. She has also been nominated for an Oscar this year.
