Zoe Saldaña’s heartfelt victory at the 2025 BAFTA Awards has captured attention, especially with the emotional dedication she made for her win. Saldaña earned the Supporting Actress trophy for her role in Emilia Pérez, where she portrayed Rita Mora Castro, a lawyer involved in a plot to help a drug cartel leader transition into a woman. During the press conference following her win, Saldaña revealed that she had taken on the role in honor of her transgender nephew, Eli. “He is the reason—they are the reason—I signed up to do this film in the first place,” she shared, adding that every award she wins for the role is dedicated to him.
The actress, who also won a Golden Globe and Critics Choice Award this year for the same role, expressed her pride in supporting the transgender community, stating, “As a proud aunt of a trans life, I will always stand with my community of trans people.” This win was especially significant for Saldaña, as it marked her first BAFTA nomination and victory.
In addition to Saldaña’s achievement, Emilia Pérez also triumphed with the Best Film Not in the English Language award. However, while Saldaña’s performance was celebrated, her co-star Karla Sofía Gascón, who portrayed the titular character, faced controversy after offensive tweets from the past resurfaced. Despite Gascón’s critical acclaim for her role, the backlash led to her removal from BAFTA’s guest list, and the actress eventually deactivated her social media account.