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Breaking Down Zoe Saldaña and Fernanda Torres’ Award-Winning Performances
The 2025 Golden Globes gave us moments that will stay with us for years, and at the heart of it all were two impressive Latina actresses, Zoe Saldaña and Fernanda Torres. Their wins weren’t just about the trophies—they were a nod to their immense talent, perseverance, and narratives that really spoke to our hearts.
Zoe Saldaña: A Role That Brought Her Closer to Her Heritage
When Zoe Saldaña stepped on stage to accept her Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress, it was clear how much this moment meant to her. With tears in her eyes and a voice full of gratitude, she said, “This is a first for me.” She then went on to give a shout-out to her fellow cast members and nominees, Karla Sofía Gascón and Selena Gomez, saying she felt “blessed to be sharing this moment.”
“I’m filled with adrenaline, but my heart is full of gratitude,” she told the audience. “My family, my mom is here, my sister, my husband and my sons—I love you, I love you—you guys are everything.”
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Speaking to Jacques Audiard, the director of ‘Emilia Perez,’ Zoe added: “Thank you so much for trusting me to play Rita, you are just a character I admire so much.”
Zoe’s role in Emilia Perez was unlike anything she’d tackled before. As Rita, she played a lawyer stuck between the demands of a powerful cartel boss and her own shifting moral views. The character’s journey is intense, packed with humor, drama, and vulnerability, and Zoe nailed every aspect of it with her usual elegance.
What made this performance even more remarkable was that it was Zoe’s first time acting in Spanish. It marked a full-circle moment for an actress who’s spent years ruling Hollywood in English-language hits like Avatar and Guardians of the Galaxy.
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Her musical performances in the film, where she danced and sang with passion, were especially moving. You could really see Zoe’s years of ballet and modern dance training shining through, something she’d moved away from early on in her career. It was like she was reconnecting with a part of herself, and the audience could definitely feel that too.
Saldaña’s performance was already recognized at the 2024 Cannes Festival, where she was part of the cast that won the award for Best Ensemble of Actresses. This new triumph at the Golden Globes not only cements her status as one of Hollywood’s most versatile actresses but also raises expectations about her potential Oscar nomination.
Fernanda Torres: A Journey of Pain and Perseverance
Fernanda Torres’s win for Best Actress in a Drama was incredibly powerful, maybe even more so. Playing Eunice Paiva in I’m Still Here required her to really tap into the story of a woman who endured unimaginable loss and still found the strength to fight for justice. It wasn’t just acting—it was about embodying the resilience of a real-life woman whose story has inspired generations.
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On stage, Fernanda began her speech with disbelief after beating high-profile actresses like Angelina Jolie, Nicole Kidman, Kate Winslet, Tilda Swinton, and Pamela Anderson.
“Wow, I didn’t prepare anything,” Torres said. “This year has been incredible for female performances. There are so many actresses here that I really admire.”
The film, directed by Walter Salles, tells the true story of Eunice, whose husband was kidnapped and murdered during Brazil’s military dictatorship. Fernanda brought raw emotion to every scene, portraying both the pain of a grieving widow and the resilience of a woman determined to uncover the truth.
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What made this win even more meaningful was Fernanda’s connection to her mother, the legendary actress Fernanda Montenegro. Twenty-five years ago, Montenegro, now 95, was nominated for the same award for Central Station and also appears in ‘I’m Still Here’ as the older version of Eunice.
Fernanda, now the first Brazilian actress to win the award, honored her mother in the most heartfelt way: “And of course I want to dedicate it to my mother. You have no idea. She was here 25 years ago. And this is proof that art can endure through life, even in difficult moments like this.”
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Her words resonated deeply as she talked about the film’s themes: “What’s happening in the world right now, with all this fear, mirrors the movie. It helps us think about how to make it through times like these.”
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