Avatar' star Zoe Saldaña won her first Oscar on March 2, for her performance in 'Emilia Pérez' Zoe Saldaña's Oscar glory was long overdue, according to her Avatar director James Cameron. The Oscar-winning Titanic filmmaker shared his reaction to Saldaña taking home the Best Supporting Actress prize for Emilia Pérez at the Academy Awards on Sunday,

Zoe Saldaña became the first American of Dominican origin to receive this award, offering key takeaways that could echo with women of color in their careers.

Zoe Saldaña won the Academy Award for best supporting actress for her performance in the Spanish-language musical “Emilia Pérez.” She plays Rita, a downtrodden Mexico City lawyer who decides to accept an offer to help Emilia Pérez, a drug cartel boss played by Karla Sofía Gascón, set up a new life after receiving gender-affirming surgery.