Zoe Saldaña Gives Teary Shout Out to Her Sons in 2025 Critics Choice Awards Speech: 'My Greatest Adventure'

Mar. 15, 2025

Zoe Saldaña.Photo:Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock

Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock

Zoe Saldañais this year’sCritics Choice Awardwinner for best supporting actress in a movie.

For her work inEmilia Pérez, Saldaña accepted the trophy onstage at the Barker Hanger in Los Angeles on Friday, Feb. 7. Thanking her collaborators and supporters, she called the win an “incredible honor.”

“To my fellow nominees, the films this year and the work you’ve all done. It’s breathtaking,” she said. “I will forever be proud to be among you. Thank you to all of you. I can’t see you, but you f—ing rock.”

She added: “Whenever you receive a negative criticism for a role or a film, everyone says, ‘Don’t read the reviews.’ Then when you get the positive feedback, everyone says, ‘Did you read the reviews?’ But I appreciate the role of a critic. I do sometimes. I sometimes read the reviews and I internalize it, especially the really insightful and helpful feedback, like, ‘Her crying is really distracting. She’s in too many franchises,’ or my personal favorite, ‘She’s too blue.’ So I will listen to you all tonight, and I will accept this with pride. Thank you.”

Zoe Saldaña.Kevin Winter/Getty

Kevin Winter/Getty

“To think thatEmilia Pérezhas been the little movie that could and has resonated with so many people has been an experience worth having,” Saldaña continued, going on to praise those she loves most: “Thank you to my family, especially my incredible husband and my nephew, who is with me tonight. You made me, me. So thank you, and to my boys, my greatest adventure and my toughest critics. I love you. My wish for the impact of this film on audiences in our world is that I hope we can all be curious and open hearted towards each other, because you never know when you’ll have the opportunity to be a hero, and someone else’s story. So, our world is too big and too beautiful to be any other way so stay curious, stay kind and stay blue, not too blue.”

Before itsChelsea Handler-hosted ceremony, broadcasting live on E!, the 30th annual Critics Choice Awards announced its film nominations on Dec. 12, withConclaveandWickedleading at 11 nominations each.Dune: Part TwoandEmilia Pérezfollowed with 10 each.

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(Left-right:) Danielle Deadwyler, Ray Fisher, John David Washington and Samuel L. Jackson in ‘The Piano Lesson’.David Lee/Netflix

David Lee/Netflix

Deadwyler, 42, broughtThe Piano Lessonits only Critics Choice nomination, honored for her work as Berniece, a Pittsburgh-based mother who refuses to sell her family’s piano. The Netflix adaptation of the August Wilson play also countsDenzel Washingtonas a producer, his sonMalcolmas co-writer and adapter and eldest sonJohn Davidas Boy Willie, Berniece’s brother.

The Piano Lessonhas meant a return for Deadwyler, last honored for her acclaimed work as Mamie Till-Mobley in the 2022 biopicTill, back to theGotham Awards, Film IndependentSpirit Awardsand more.

Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor in ‘Nickel Boys’.Courtesy of Orion Pictures

Courtesy of Orion Pictures

No stranger to the Critics Choice Awards, Ellis-Taylor, 55, has earned three nods in four years: for her Oscar-nominated work inKing Richard, drama seriesJustified: City Primevaland nowNickel Boys. Her supporting performance as Hattie in the latter, director RaMell Ross’ adaptation of the Colson Whitehead historical novel about real-life abusive reform schools, has topped the lists of regional critics groups.

“We have the power to give these children a voice, to grieve for them, and in that grieving become active in making it right,” Ellis-Taylor told PEOPLE.Nickel Boys, she said, is “our shot, our chance doing for these children what no one did, which was hear them.”

Ariana Grande in ‘Wicked: Part One’.Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures

Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures

The Grammy-winning Grande, 31, charmed the critics with her turn as bubbly Glinda, the future Good Witch, in theWizard of OzprequelWicked, directorJon M. Chu’s adaptation of the hit Broadway musical. She stars oppositeCynthia Erivo, who is nominated in the lead actress category, as Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch of the West.

The two-part adaptation (Part Two, titledWicked: For Good) marks Grande’s first major film role. Along with her Critics Choice debut, she earned a first-time nomination at theGolden Globesand her secondScreen Actors Guild Awardnod, as well as aNational Board of ReviewSpotlight Award for the “creative collaboration” between herself and Erivo.

Margaret Qualley in ‘The Substance’.MUBI

MUBI

Horror-comedy hitThe Substancefeatures Qualley, 30, as Sue, the younger and unpredictable version of faded star Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore), who generates Sue from her own body after injecting the titular mysterious serum.

Qualley previously told PEOPLE the film, from French filmmaker Coralie Fargeat, was"really outside of my comfort zone." She added, “It’s something I’ve really never done. I think I’ve intentionally gone the other direction throughout my career.”

Isabella Rossellini in ‘Conclave’.Courtesy of Focus Features

Courtesy of Focus Features

As Vatican nun Sister Agnes in papal dramaConclave— making a memorable impact with little dialogue or screen time — Rossellini, 72, has earned her first-ever recognition from the Critics Choice Association. The Italian-born actress is also up for a Golden Globe and SAG Award this season for the performance opposite fellow contendersRalph Fiennes,Stanley Tucciand more.

Zoe Saldaña and Karla Sofía Gascón in ‘Emilia Pérez’.Netflix

Netflix

Saldaña told PEOPLE last September about the “wonderful"bond between herEmilia Pérezcostars. “There’s so much love. There’s so much respect. We’re rooting for each other. We’re happy for each other. We’re fixing each other’s makeup and wardrobes,” she said. “We knew what it meant to us. And knowing that it’s becoming something special to so many people is impactful.”

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SeePEOPLE’s full coverageof the 30th annual Critics Choice Awards as they’re broadcasting live on E! from Barker Hangar in Santa Monica. The show will also be available to stream the following day on Peacock.

source: people.com