At the glittering SAG Awards 2025 ceremony, Zoe Saldaña triumphantly claimed the honor for her stellar performance as Emilia Pérez, dedicating her victory to uplift her fellow thespians with heartfelt words of encouragement. On this Sunday evening, Saldaña was bestowed the prestigious SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role, an occasion she used to underscore the warmth and acceptance she has found within SAG-AFTRA's ranks.
From the stage, the radiant star beamed, "I am honored to belong to a union that embraces my authentic self, a place where my origins are unchallenged, and my speech or pronouns are never a subject of judgment. I firmly believe that each individual has the inalienable right to embrace their true identity. Emilia Pérez embodies truth and love, reminding us actors, more than ever, of our crucial role in narrating stories that are not only beautiful and thought-provoking but also resonate within the vast spectrum of artistic liberty."
Noticeably absent from her speech were mentions of her co-stars in Emilia Pérez, Selena Gomez and Karla Sofía Gascón, as well as the film's helmsman, Jacques Audiard. It's worth noting that Gascón, nominated in the Best Actress category, has recently been ensnared in controversy over resurfaced offensive tweets.
The nomination pool for this category also featured Monica Barbaro for A Complete Unknown, Jamie Lee Curtis for The Last Showgirl, Danielle Deadwyler for The Piano Lesson, and Ariana Grande for Wicked. Keke Palmer and Colman Domingo gracefully presented the award to Saldaña.
This victory adds another feather to Saldaña's cap ahead of the prestigious Academy Awards next weekend, following her recent triumphs at the Golden Globes, BAFTAs, and Critics’ Choice Awards. Last year, Da’Vine Joy Randolph took home the SAG Award in this category for her role in The Holdovers, eventually securing an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal.
The SAG Awards ceremony, streamed live on Netflix, illuminated the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall in Los Angeles with a splash of glamour and elegance. (Catch a glimpse of the red carpet arrivals.)
