Zoe Saldana dedicates her BAFTA award to her trans nephew in an emotional speech

Zoe Saldana won the BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress and dedicated her award to her trans nephew in an emotional speech.

Zoe Saldana was honoured with the Best Supporting Actress award at the 2025 BAFTAs for her role in Emilia Pérez, the Spanish-language musical directed by Jacques Audiard. During her acceptance speech, the actress dedicated the award to her trans nephew, Eli.

“I dedicate this recognition and the film Emilia Pérez to my nephew Eli. He is the reason — they are the reason — I agreed to take on this project. As a proud aunt of a trans life, I will always support the trans community,” said Saldana, visibly moved.

The film, which tells the story of a Mexican cartel leader who undergoes gender reassignment surgery to escape justice, has been praised for its focus on gender identity.

Although her co-star Karla Sofía Gascón was nominated for Best Actress, she did not attend the ceremony due to controversy over past racist tweets. Nevertheless, Saldana mentioned her in her speech, also thanking Selena Gomez and Adriana Paz.

Emilia Pérez has made a significant impact on the film industry, sparking conversations about trans representation in cinema.