Zoe Saldaña, the Oscar-winning actress for her role in “Emilia Pérez,” has responded to criticism from Mexicans who felt offended by the film’s portrayal of Mexico. During an interview, Saldaña expressed her sorrow that many Mexicans were hurt by the movie and clarified that its intention was not to offend.
The actress stated that the heart of the film was about four women’s friendship and universality, emphasizing that their struggles could be anyone’s. She also acknowledged the possibility of improvement and welcomed conversations with the Mexican community to better understand how the film could have been done differently.
Saldaña’s comments came after she highlighted her family’s history as immigrants in her acceptance speech, drawing parallels between her own experiences and those of Latinx communities. Despite facing criticism from various groups, “Emilia Pérez” secured 13 nominations and took home two awards at the Oscars.
However, a journalist questioned why Saldaña did not address the criticism directly, which led to accusations that she was not genuinely apologizing for the film’s portrayal. The actress defended herself, saying she was simply stating her intention and welcoming constructive feedback.
Source: https://variety.com/2025/film/news/zoe-saldana-apologizes-mexicans-emilia-perez-1236325779