Zoe Saldana, known for her iconic roles in 'Avatar' and 'Guardians of the Galaxy,' stepped into the spotlight in a new way at the 97th Academy Awards. The 46-year-old actress made history by becoming the first American of Dominican origin to win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, thanks to her powerful performance in the psychedelic narco-musical Emilia Perez.

She paid an emotional tribute to the cast and her family through her winning speech on Sunday night at the ceremony presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences at Dolby Theatre, as per Variety.

"I am a proud child of immigrant parents with dreams and dignity and hard-working hands," Saldana said in her acceptance speech.

"I am the first American of Dominican origin to accept an Academy Award. And I know I will not be the last."

Selena Gomez stood up and applauded Zoe Saldana.

Saldana triumphed over a talented group of nominees, including Ariana Grande (Wicked), Isabella Rossellini (Conclave), Monica Barbaro (A Complete Unknown), and Felicity Jones (The Brutalist).

In 'Emilia Perez', she plays Rita, a Mexican attorney who gets caught in the middle of a gripping story. The film follows a drug lord who fakes his own death, undergoes gender-affirming surgery, and returns as a woman (played by Karla Sofia Gascon). Selena Gomez stars as the wife left behind, navigating a complex family reunion with tragic consequences.

A role that hits home

Saldana, who speaks fluent Spanish, found a unique opportunity with this role.

"The opportunity never really came" for her to act in Spanish before, she told Elle magazine.

Originally written for a Mexican male actor, French director Jacques Audiard rewrote the part to fit Saldana’s background. Audiard himself acknowledged the shift in casting.

"When I had this woman in front of me, a determined woman in her 40s with a strong past, (I realised) I had gotten the casting wrong. I realised my characters were too young! They needed to be older," he told The Hollywood Reporter.

A career built on blockbusters

Born to a Dominican father and a Dominican-Puerto Rican mother, Saldana grew up bilingual in New York before moving to the Dominican Republic after her father’s death. It was there that she honed her skills in ballet before returning to the U.S. to finish school and enter acting.

She first gained recognition with 'Center Stage' in 2000 and later found success with 'Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl'. But it was 'Avatar' (2009) that catapulted her to global stardom. She later joined the Star Trek franchise as Lieutenant Uhura and became Gamora in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Despite starring in four films that each grossed over $2 billion (Avatar, Avatar: The Way of Water, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame), Saldana yearned for deeper roles.

"I was very much like, 'Well, that's okay, I'm going to dance to the beat of my own drum and I'll go to space and I'll be green and I'll be blue and I'll do all those things.' Then 15 years go by, and I'm yearning for that reconnection," she said.

Controversy surrounding 'Emilia Perez'

While Emilia Perez received widespread acclaim, the film’s campaign was overshadowed by controversy surrounding past tweets from Gascon. The issue saddened Saldana, and a month before the Oscars, Audiard distanced himself from Gascon’s remarks, saying, "He is hurting others."

However, he reaffirmed his support for Saldana, stating that he would continue to "champion" her work.

What’s next for Saldana?

A married mother of three, Saldana has an exciting lineup ahead. She will voice a role in the Disney/Pixar animated space-themed film 'Elio', set for release in June. And, of course, she will return to Pandora in a new 'Avatar' sequel, slated to hit theatres in December.

AFP