In an emotional and powerful acceptance speech at the 07th Acadamy Awards, Zoe Saldaña paid tribute to her Dominican heritage and her family’s immigrant journey.
She began by sharing a personal story about her grandmother, saying, “My grandmother arrived in this country in 1961.” With pride, she continued, “I am the daughter of hardworking immigrant parents who came here with dreams and dignity. Being the first American of Dominican descent to win an Academy Award is an honor—but I know I won’t be the last.
“Throughout her career, Zoe Saldaña has starred in a diverse range of films and television shows, showcasing her versatility across genres. She gained early recognition with roles in Center Stage, Crossroads, Drumline, and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. She then appeared in The Terminal, Guess Who, and Vantage Point before landing her breakthrough role as Nyota Uhura in Star Trek (2009) and Neytiri in James Cameron’s Avatar (2009).
Saldaña further cemented her status in Hollywood with performances in Colombiana, The Words, and Out of the Furnace. She became a key figure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Gamora in Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) and its sequels, as well as in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Her other notable films include The Book of Life, Live by Night, I Kill Giants, Missing Link, The Adam Project, and Amsterdam. She reprised her role as Neytiri in Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) and is set to continue in the franchise. Saldaña has also lent her voice to animated projects like My Little Pony: The Movie and Vivo and made television appearances in shows like Rosemary’s Baby and From Scratch.
