Zoe Saldaña's acceptance speech at the 2025 BAFTAs for Best Actress in a Supporting Role was cut short after she became emotional and used strong language.
The 46-year-old actress won the award for her portrayal of Rita Mora Castro in the controversial musical Emilia Pérez, beating out Jamie Lee Curtis, Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande, Felicity Jones, and Isabella Rossellini.
Visibly shocked by the win, Saldaña took to the stage, where she struggled to contain her emotions. She admitted to being told not to cry by her children and then joked about her attempts at British accents, saying, "Even though I have a lot of British friends, I find myself repeating all their phrases, and I know that I’m a pain in the a***.”
Saldaña went on to thank BAFTA, calling the film a "creative challenge of a lifetime" and praising director Jacques Audiard.
She expressed her hope that the film would "change hearts and challenge minds," adding, "voices need to be heard, just not my English accent.”
She dedicated the award and the film to her nephew, Eli, stating, "So as the proud aunt of a trans life, I will always stand with my community of trans people.”
As her list of thank-yous continued, Saldaña began to cry while acknowledging her mother, husband, and children. Faced with a countdown clock, she exclaimed, “Oh my god I'm getting a countdown. F*** f*** f***!"
The broadcast cut away from Saldaña’s speech before her expletive-filled conclusion, instead showing her walking off stage with her award. Earlier in the evening, Emilia Pérez won Best Film Not in the English Language.
Director Jacques Audiard, in his acceptance speech, paid tribute to his cast, including Saldaña, Selena Gomez, and others, expressing his pride in their work.
Emilia Pérez has faced controversy since its release. Initially, it drew criticism for not casting Mexican actors in Mexican roles.
Additionally, lead star Karla Sofia became embroiled in scandal after past tweets resurfaced. She has since withdrawn from the awards circuit, acknowledging that the controversy could overshadow the film's success.
While still nominated for an Oscar, she is not expected to attend the ceremony.
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