Zoe Saldaña celebrated a major milestone at the 2025 SAG Awards,
where she took home the award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role for her performance in Emilia Pérez.
The actress, 46, who has also secured a BAFTA Award and a Golden Globe for the same role, reflected on her journey in Hollywood during her heartfelt acceptance speech.
Saldaña Reflects on Her Early Career
As she accepted her award on Sunday, February 23, Saldaña expressed gratitude for being recognized by her peers in the Screen Actors Guild.
“To be in this room is a true honor. This is my community. This is my circus,” she said, addressing fellow actors in attendance.
She then shared a personal anecdote about the early days of her career, revealing that when she received her first SAG card in 1998, she had no idea what the union was.
“I didn’t even know what SAG was, and I am grateful that my mother, 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.”
Her remarks highlighted the importance of organizations like SAG-AFTRA, which safeguard actors’ rights, ensuring they receive fair wages and industry protections.
Acknowledging Her Support System
During her speech, Saldaña took a moment to thank her team of professionals, including her agents and lawyers, who she said continuously educate her on how to build a sustainable career while supporting her family.
She also stressed the importance of financial education for actors, emphasizing that learning how to manage earnings is crucial in the entertainment industry.
“I think it’s so important for us actors to financially educate ourselves,” she noted.
Turning to her personal support system, she expressed appreciation for her family, calling them “beautiful” and crediting them for their unwavering encouragement throughout her career.
A Message of Inclusivity and Artistic Freedom
In a powerful conclusion to her speech, Saldaña highlighted the significance of diversity and acceptance in Hollywood. She praised SAG-AFTRA for fostering an environment where she has never felt judged for where she comes from, how she speaks, or how she identifies.
“I believe that everybody has the right to be who they are, and Emilia Pérez is about truth and love,” she said.
She also urged fellow actors to tell thought-provoking and meaningful stories, advocating for artistic freedom in the industry.
“I think that us as actors, now more than ever before, really have to tell stories that are beautiful and thought-provoking and live within the spectrum of artistic freedom.”
A Competitive Category with Strong Contenders
Saldaña’s victory was particularly significant, given the impressive lineup of nominees in the Outstanding Supporting Actress category. She was up against:
Monica Barbaro (A Complete Unknown)
Jamie Lee Curtis (The Last Showgirl)
Danielle Deadwyler (The Piano Lesson)
Ariana Grande (Wicked)
Each of these actresses delivered critically acclaimed performances, making the competition for the award fierce.
Monica Barbaro (A Complete Unknown)
Barbaro, 34, portrayed folk music legend Joan Baez in the Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown. Starring alongside Timothée Chalamet as Dylan and Edward Norton as Pete Seeger, Barbaro’s performance earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Earlier this month, she met Joan Baez in person, sharing the moment on social media.
Jamie Lee Curtis (The Last Showgirl)
Curtis, 66, is no stranger to the SAG Awards, having won Best Supporting Actress in 2023 for Everything Everywhere All at Once. In The Last Showgirl, she portrays Shelly, a former showgirl turned cocktail waitress in Las Vegas, starring alongside Pamela Anderson, Brenda Song, and Kiernan Shipka. Curtis was also nominated for this role at the 2025 BAFTA Awards, though Saldaña ultimately took home that trophy.
Danielle Deadwyler (The Piano Lesson)
Deadwyler, 42, earned her first-ever SAG nomination for her role in The Piano Lesson, an adaptation of August Wilson’s classic play. The film, set in 1936 Pittsburgh, follows a family’s dispute over a prized piano, with Deadwyler’s character fighting to keep the cherished heirloom.
Ariana Grande (Wicked)
Grande, 31, received multiple nominations this awards season for her portrayal of Glinda the Good Witch in Wicked, one of the biggest films of 2024. Her role in the highly anticipated movie also secured her nods at the BAFTA Awards, Critics Choice Awards, and Golden Globes. She is currently up for Best Supporting Actress at the upcoming 97th Academy Awards on March 2.
A Triumphant Awards Season for Zoe Saldaña
Saldaña’s SAG Award win adds to her already impressive accolades for Emilia Pérez. Throughout the 2025 awards season, she has claimed some of the industry’s most prestigious honors, including the BAFTA and Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress.
With an Oscar nomination still in play, she remains a strong contender for Best Supporting Actress at the 97th Academy Awards. If she wins, it will mark yet another monumental achievement in her illustrious career.
For now, Saldaña continues to bask in the glow of her SAG Awards victory, celebrating a journey that began over two decades ago—a journey that, as she admitted in her speech, started with her not even knowing what SAG was.
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