Zoë Saldaña apologized to the Mexican community after winning an Oscar for her controversial film Emilia Pérez. The film has generated significant debate since its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, where it received both praise and criticism for its portrayal of Mexican characters.
The Avatar star scooped the Best Actress in a Supporting Role prize at the 2025 Academy Awards on Sunday, March 2, for her role in the movie — which was plunged into controversy over star Karla Sofia Gascon’s resurfaced tweets scandal — and after her big win, Saldaña took the opportunity to say sorry to “so many Mexicans” who felt offended by the movie’s portrayal of the country. The scandal erupted when several tweets containing controversial statements about Mexico were discovered on Gascon’s social media account dating back several years.
“I’m very, very sorry that you and so many Mexicans felt offended. That was never our intention,” Saldaña told reporters, speaking in the press room after picking up her trophy. “We spoke and we came from a place of love, and I will stand by that. I don’t share your opinion. For me, the heart of this movie, was not Mexico. We weren’t making a film about a country. We were making a film about four women.” Cultural representation has become an increasingly important topic in Hollywood, with many calling for more authentic portrayals of diverse communities.
Saldaña went on to insist the leading female characters in Emilia Pérez — played by herself, Gascon and Selena Gomez — could have been from any background. The film has grossed more than $45 million worldwide despite the controversy surrounding its release.
“These women could have been Russian, could have been Dominican, could have been Black [and] from Detroit, could have been from Israel, could have been from Gaza,” she added. “These women are still very universal women that are struggling every day at trying to survive systemic oppression and trying to find their most authentic voices, so I will stand by that.” The film was shot in Mexico City over a period of three months with a predominantly local crew.
Zoë Saldaña open to criticism
Saldaña went on to say: “I’m also always open to sit down with all of my Mexican brothers and sisters, and with love and respect, having a great conversation on how Emilia could have been done better. [I] have no problem. I welcome it.” Several prominent Mexican filmmakers have weighed in on the controversy, with mixed opinions about the film’s approach to representation.
The Oscar win marked Saldaña‘s first ever win at the Academy Awards and she broke down in tears as she accepted the trophy at the glitzy ceremony in Los Angeles. Saldaña had previously been nominated twice but had never taken home the coveted statue until now.
The 46-year-old actress admitted she was “floored” to have won the Oscar for Emilia Pérez ahead of Monica Barbaro (A Complete Unknown), Ariana Grande (Wicked), Felicity Jones (The Brutalist) and Isabella Rossellini (Conclave). The betting odds had actually favored Ariana Grande to win, making Saldaña’s victory something of an upset.
“Mommy! Mommy! My mom is here, my whole family is here. I am floored by this honor,” she said, speaking on stage at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theater. “Thank you to the Academy for recognizing the quiet heroism and the power of a woman like Rita and talking about powerful women, my fellow nominees, the love and community you have offered me is a true gift and I will pay it forward. Thank you so much.” Saldaña’s mother, who immigrated to the United States from the Dominican Republic, was visibly emotional during the acceptance speech.
“[Director] Jacques Audiard you are forever a beloved character in my life, thank you for taking the interest, thank you for being so curious about these women to tell this story. To my cast and crew of Emilia Pérez, I am sharing this award with you.” Audiard, the French director known for his powerful character studies, spent two years researching and developing the script.
“Netflix, Ted, Lisa, Bella, Why Not productions, YSL, thank you for your support. To my kick-ass team at CAA, my amazing managers and lawyers and the powerful ladies of the lead company, your guidance and thank you for always, always answering my emails late at night.” The film was produced with a budget of approximately $28 million and has been praised for its innovative storytelling approach despite the controversy surrounding its cultural representations.
