Who won Best Supporting Actress at the 2025 Oscars for her role in 'Emilia Pérez'?

Zoe Saldaña earned the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress at the 97th annual Oscars ceremony, held on March 2, 2025, for her compelling performance in the musical crime film 'Emilia Pérez'. This marked Saldaña's first Oscar win, a significant achievement that capped off an impressive awards season where she consistently garnered critical acclaim. Her portrayal of Rita Mora Castro, a dissatisfied lawyer whose life takes an unexpected turn, showcased her remarkable range and talent in a role that blended dramatic acting with song and dance.

Throughout the 2024-2025 awards circuit, Saldaña was a frontrunner for the Best Supporting Actress prize, sweeping major accolades including the Golden Globe, BAFTA, and Screen Actors Guild (SAG) awards. Her emotional acceptance speech at the Oscars highlighted her pride in her Dominican heritage, noting that she was the first Dominican American to win an Academy Award. 'Emilia Pérez' itself was a highly nominated film, leading all contenders at the 97th Academy Awards with a record 13 nominations for a non-English language film, ultimately also securing an Oscar for Best Original Song. This recognition underscored the film's artistic merit and Saldaña's pivotal contribution to its success.