Zoe Saldana's Oscar has its own set of pronouns, and her new animated film helps with family "cool points"

Zoe Saldana has had a busy schedule. The actress just won her first Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. She received the award for her work in the film Emilia Pérez. She is now discussing where she stores her dazzling gold figurine. It turns out her Oscar is extremely intriguing. She told PEOPLE that her Oscar is "gender fluid." She also stated that it is "trans" and "goes by they/them." This is a delightful and unexpected take on hearing about an award.

Her film Emilia Pérez is a Spanish-language musical and crime drama. In it, Zoe Saldana plays Rita. Rita, a lawyer, assists the main character, played by Karla Sofía Gascón, with gender-affirming surgery. This allows the character to leave life as a cartel boss. It sounds like a serious and strong job, particularly for an Oscar winner.

However, she has been working on other projects as well. She also has a new Pixar/Disney film, Elio. This film is about Elio, a space obsessive boy with a strong alien fixation. Zoe Saldana stars as Olga Solís. She explained that this role allows her to gain "cool points" with her own sons. Being a parent has motivated her to focus on items that children will like. She enjoys connecting with them through her work and is highly respected by her children as a mother. Her 8-year-old son is especially thrilled for Elio to appear.

Zoe Saldana Shares Her Sons' Reactions To Her Big Career Moments And Oscar Win

From not caring much to comparing an Academy Award with winning the World Cup

Zoe Saldana and her three sons attended the Los Angeles premiere of Elio. Her 8-year-old son Zen, as well as her 10-year-old twins Bowie and Cy, were in attendance. She shares them with her spouse, Marco Perego. On the red carpet, she discussed family movie nights. She described it as an experience they all share. They laugh and cry together. Her sons are getting older, so they monitor each other to see who cries first during dramatic movie scenes. She believes it just implies they are deeply moved by what they are feeling. She enjoys being a part of it. She went on to claim that they often look at her and plead, "Please don't cry" since she cries over everything.

Saldana once stated that her sons do not often care about her career. However, they recognized that her Oscar for Emilia Pérez was a significant achievement. She stated that they equated the achievement to winning the World Cup. She stated that her business is like their backyard, therefore they understand and care about it. However, they do not always do so. Only after their friends mention it do they return home and say, "That's pretty cool, mom, that you've got this like big thing." She stated that they thought in soccer lingo, therefore they felt it was like the "World Cup mom." "It's like the World Cup of acting." This demonstrates how much her children are beginning to understand the significance of her profession. It also demonstrates how grounded she remains in her home life despite her enormous fame.

Zoe Saldana did not come up with the idea that her Oscar would be "gender fluid" or "trans". Jamie Lee Curtis did something similar when she won the Academy Award for Everything Everywhere All at Once. Curtis used the they/them pronouns for her figurine. She explained that she did it to assist her daughter Ruby, who came out as transgender in 2020. This suggests an increasing tendency in Hollywood for celebrities to share their thoughts on gender identification in a lighthearted yet important manner. It contributes to increased awareness and support for the LGBTQ+ community. Saldana's choice contributes to this conversation. It makes her Oscar victory more personal and reflective of contemporary thinking.

Understanding Emilia Perez, the role that led to Zoe Saldana's first Oscar win.

A look at the character and the important themes that the film explores.

Zoe Saldana received the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role as Rita in Emilia Pérez. Rita is a lawyer who assists a strong cartel lord with a sex change operation. This praised performance dominated the 2025 awards season. Saldana earned supporting actress awards at the Golden Globes, Critics' Choice Awards, BAFTAs, and Screen Actors Guild Awards prior to her Oscar win. She also shared the Best Actress award at Cannes alongside Karla Sofia Gascon, Selena Gomez, and Adriana Paz. This demonstrates how well received her performance was at numerous award ceremonies.

In her Oscar acceptance speech, Zoe Saldana thanked the Academy for recognizing "the quiet heroism and power in a woman like Rita, and talking about powerful women." She also commended the filmmaker, Jacques Audiard, for his attention and curiosity in these people. She accepted the medal on Emilia Pérez's behalf among her cast and crew. She felt tearful as she discussed her family and grandparents. She stated that her grandma arrived to the nation in 1961. Saldana is the proud kid of immigrant parents. She is the first American of Dominican descent to get an Academy Award, and she hopes she is not the last. Saldana added that receiving an Oscar for a role in which she sang and spoke in Spanish would make her grandma happy if she were present. She dedicated the honor to her grandma. This passionate statement demonstrated just how much the prize meant to her personally and culturally.

A Look at Elio: Zoe Saldana's New Pixar Film and Its Family-Friendly Story.

Why This Animated Adventure Resonates With Both Children and Adults

Zoe Saldana's next major endeavor is a voice role in Elio. This Disney and Pixar film is planned to release on June 20. The film follows a lonely 7-year-old boy who feels like an outsider. He wishes he were abducted by aliens. He is beamed onto a massive spaceship. It is a gathering spot for diplomats from all around the universe. Their boss, Ambassador Questa, incorrectly believes Elio is Earth's leader. He joins in, resulting in a number of amusing and touching scenes. A warlord threatens war if his planet is not admitted to the federation. This introduces some conflict into the plot.

The directors also took sure to include elements for younger audiences. Glordan, a slug-like creature, is the warlord's offspring. Glordan becomes Elio's friend. Their camaraderie helps them get through a global crisis. This transforms Elio into the hero he has always longed to be. Elio is portrayed by Yonas Kibreab, and Glordan by Remy Edgerly. Their vocal performances create a believable camaraderie that is both lovely and hilarious. The video was created by the same crew that worked on popular Disney goods such as Turning Red and Coco. This means that it will feature good plot and compelling animation.

While the film features parts that appeal to children, some critics believe it is geared primarily towards adult sci-fi lovers. For example, using a ham radio and discussing political crises may not appeal to many young viewers. However, the themes of gaining self-esteem and discovering one's position in the universe are global. The film features a wide cast and characters. It grants a small brown child the opportunity to redeem the universe. This type of portrayal is always valuable. The film also explores the concept of loss, as Elio is an orphan. This is a recurring topic in Disney movies. Despite some potentially adult themes, the overall plot revolves about discovery and connection. It emphasizes the importance of personal connection and discovering community in unexpected places.

Zoe Saldana's Continued Influence on Film and Culture

From Groundbreaking Roles to Personal Statements Her influence continues to grow.

Zoe Saldana continues to make her impact in Hollywood. She chooses fascinating and frequently revolutionary positions. Her openness to disclose intimate things, such as Oscar's pronouns, demonstrates her impact. She uses her platform to raise awareness about significant social issues. This elevates her beyond the role of an actor to that of a cultural commentator.

Her career has included roles in major series such as Guardians of the Galaxy and Avatar. She combines these high-budget films with more character-driven ones, such as Emilia Pérez. This variety demonstrates her talent and commitment to several forms of storytelling. Her ability to connect with audiences from all genres is extremely extraordinary.

Zoe Saldana is a fascinating figure in the entertainment industry as she navigates her demanding career and family life. Her commitment to her profession, family, and ideals shines through in all she does. It's always interesting to watch what she'll do next.