Zoe Saldaña has won her first Oscar.
Saldaña, who starred as a lawyer named Rita who gets entangled with a transgender cartel leader's transition in the Spanish-language musical film Emilia Pérez, took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress at this year's Academy Awards.
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The actress thanked the Academy for "recognizing the quiet heroism and power in a woman like Rita," and thanked director Jacques Audiard for "being so curious about these women" in the film, and said she was sharing the award with the rest of the cast and crew of the film.
Saldaña also thanked her husband and mentioned her children. She then recalled her grandmother immigrating to the United States in 1961 — noting that she's a proud daughter of immigrant parents.
"I am the first American of Dominican origin to accept an Academy Award and I know I will not be the last," she said. "I hope the fact that I'm getting an award for a role where I got to sing and speak in Spanish — my grandmother, if she were here, she would be so delighted."
Saldaña has won many awards this year, including the Golden Globe and the BAFTA, which she dedicated to her trans nephew.
"I'm dedicating all 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," Saldaña said. "So as the proud aunt of a trans life, I will always stand with my community of trans people."
Emilia Pérez was the most controversial film of this year's Oscars race. When it was released, both trans and Mexican critics criticized its depiction of trans people and Mexican culture.
It garnered even more controversy when tweets from around five years ago from its star, Karla Sofía Gascón, the first out trans actress nominated for an acting Oscar, resurfaced. These tweets included hateful and bigoted comments about Islam, diversity at the Oscars and George Floyd.
The 97th Academy Awards ceremony is airing on ABC and Hulu.
