Zoe Saldaña Says She Took ‘Emilia Pérez’ Role Because of Trans Nephew

Zoe Saldaña took her award-winning function in Emilia Pérez for a really private motive.

After clinching the supporting actress trophy on the 78th British Academy Film and Television Arts Awards (BAFTA) on Sunday, Feb. 16, the actress revealed throughout a press convention within the winners room that she took the function of Rita Mora Castro in honor of her nephew Eli, who’s transgender.

“I’m dedicating all of those awards and the movie Emilia Perez to my nephew, Eli,” Saldaña, 46, advised reporters. “He is the rationale, they’re the rationale, I signed up to do that movie within the first place.”

“So as a proud aunt of a trans life, I’ll at all times stand with my group of trans individuals,” she added.

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Emilia Pérez, from French filmmaker Jacques Audiard, netted 11 whole BAFTA nominations, profitable each supporting actress for Saldaña in addition to within the class of movie not within the English language.

The Netflix crime musical sees Saldaña as a lawyer serving to a Mexican drug lord (performed by Karla Sofía Gascón) transition into a girl. A primary-time nominee with the British Academy, Saldaña additionally earned this yr’s Golden Globe and Critics Choice Awards for her efficiency.

Her costar Gascón, 52, was not in attendance on the BAFTAs following latest controversy over her resurfaced social media posts criticizing Muslim tradition, George Floyd, variety and extra.

The Spanish star, who made historical past because the first overtly transgender appearing nominee at a number of awards reveals, deactivated her X account on Jan. 31, and apologized after making varied statements that drew backlash.

At the 78th annual BAFTAs ceremony on Sunday, hosted by David Tennant, Saldaña took the Royal Festival Hall stage in London to present a rousing acceptance speech.

“I was told not to cry by my children so I’m going to try. This is so validating and a true honor,” mentioned the actress, calling Emilia Pérez “a artistic problem of a lifetime.”

“How do you start to even method a movie that defies categorization? You begin by taking the lead with Jacques Audiard, so thanks very a lot,” she addressed the director. “I wish to thank my very great solid and the crew who poured their hearts into the movie.”

“I wish to thank my mother for being such a selfless particular person. Thanks to you, I’m in a position to do something I would like,” Saldaña continued, earlier than shouting out longtime love Marco Perego: “My husband, you’re God’s favourite and I hate it — however you’re so lovely!”