Zoe Saldaña’s BAFTA Win and the Controversy Surrounding ‘Emilia Pérez’

Zoe Saldaña won the BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in “Emilia Pérez” at the 2025 BAFTAs. The film, a Spanish-language crime musical, garnered significant attention but also faced controversy.

Saldaña’s Dedication

During the winners’ room press conference, Saldaña dedicated her award and the film to her trans nephew, Eli. She stated, “I’m dedicating all of these awards and the film ‘Emilia Pérez’ to my nephew, Eli. He is the reason—they are the reason—I signed up to do this film in the first place. So as the proud aunt of a trans life, I will always stand with my community of trans people.” In the film, Saldaña plays Rita Mora Castro, a lawyer who assists a Mexican cartel leader in obtaining gender-affirming surgery.

BAFTA Win and Nominations

This BAFTA win marks Saldaña’s first, along with her first nomination from the British awards body. She is also nominated for an Oscar in the same category. “Emilia Pérez” received 11 BAFTA nominations, including Best Film, Director (Jacques Audiard), Leading Actress (Karla Sofía Gascón), and Supporting Actress (Selena Gomez). Saldaña expressed gratitude to her cast, including Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez, and Adriana, emphasizing the film’s potential to “change hearts and challenge minds.”

Controversy Surrounding Karla Sofía Gascón

Karla Sofía Gascón, the lead actress in “Emilia Pérez”, was absent from the BAFTAs ceremony due to resurfaced racist tweets. These posts contained offensive views regarding Muslims, the 2020 murder of George Floyd, and the Oscars. Gascón has since apologized for the comments and denied being racist. Despite the controversy, Jacques Audiard thanked “my dear” Karla Sofía Gascón during his BAFTAs acceptance speech.

Saldaña’s Response to the Controversy

Saldaña addressed the controversy, stating she was “still processing everything that has transpired” and that it made her “really sad because I don’t support [it], and I don’t have any tolerance for any negative rhetoric towards people of any group.” She emphasized her positive experience with the cast and crew, highlighting inclusivity, collaboration, and racial, cultural, and gender equity.

Selena Gomez’s Perspective

Selena Gomez also commented on the controversy, saying, “Some of the magic has disappeared. But I choose to continue to be proud of what I’ve done and I’m just grateful. I live with no regrets, and I would do this movie over and over again if I could.”

BBC Broadcast Cut

Zoe Saldaña’s acceptance speech at the 2025 BAFTAs was cut from the BBC’s broadcast. The BBC stated that the cuts were “due to time constraints”. The official BAFTAs YouTube account later shared the full speech. In her speech, Saldaña thanked BAFTA, her cast mates, her mother, her husband, and her children.

Gascón’s Defense

On February 2, Gascón defended herself in a TV interview, revealing she had received death threats and abuse. She explained that she uses “irony, sarcasm and at times exaggeration” in her posts and is a supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement. She also said she relies on “irony, sarcasm and at times exaggeration and of course I use a resource to talk in third person, if what I wrote was written by someone who thinks in a negative manner,”

Film Reception

NME gave “Emilia Pérez” a three-star review, noting its unique blend of influences but also describing it as “exhausting.” The review highlighted the film’s mix of personal impact, ludicrous songs, and sentimental themes.