Zoe Saldaña’s Husband Almost Missed Her Big Critics Choice Award Win

Zoe Saldaña had a moment to remember at the 2025 Critics Choice Awards, but not without a slight mishap involving her husband, Marco Perego Saldaña. The Avatar star was called to the stage for Best Actress for her role in Emilia Pérez, and like most award show moments, she instinctively turned toward her husband for a celebratory kiss—only to find the seat next to her empty. But the reason for his absence? A very relatable one: Marco had gone to the bathroom.

When Zoe realized Marco wasn’t there, she made sure the audience knew why, humorously announcing, “My husband’s back from the bathroom!” She continued, playfully saying, “He really went to the bathroom!” before adding a light scolding in Italian, which only added to the charm of her acceptance speech.

Zoe’s Heartfelt and Hilarious Acceptance Speech

Once Marco returned to his seat, Zoe dove into her heartfelt speech. Although she had prepared a speech for the Critics Choice Awards, Zoe confessed that her publicist had advised against giving it to producers ahead of time for the Teleprompter. So, in true award show fashion, Zoe pulled out her speech from her bag and went to work.

As she looked at her fellow nominees, including Ariana Grande and Danielle Deadwyler, Zoe expressed deep admiration for their work, saying, “The films this year and the work you’ve all done, it’s breath-taking, I will forever be proud to be among you. Thank you to all of you—I can’t see you, but you f–king rock.” (This part was understandably bleeped out). It was a raw and genuine moment that fans couldn’t help but appreciate.

Zoe Saldaña’s Gratitude and Insight

Zoe didn’t shy away from acknowledging the criticisms she’s faced in her career, mentioning, “Whenever you receive a negative criticism for a role or a film, everyone always says, ‘Don’t read the reviews.’” She continued, adding humor to the moment with her thoughts on the often conflicting nature of feedback: “Then when you get the positive feedback, everyone says, ‘Did you read the reviews?’ But I appreciate the role of a critic, I do.”

She also shared some of the odd and funny critiques she’s received, like being told her crying was distracting or that she was “too blue,” a playful reference to her roles in the Avatar franchise. Despite the criticisms, Zoe proudly accepted her award, highlighting how Emilia Pérez had been a labor of love, expressing her gratitude for everyone involved in the film.

A Loving Family Moment

Zoe took a moment to thank her family, especially Marco, saying, “Thank you to my family, especially my incredible husband and my nephew who was with me tonight. You made me me, so thank you.” She also dedicated part of her speech to her three sons, calling them her “greatest adventure and toughest critics.”

Zoe’s closing words were filled with hope and inspiration: “My wish for the impact of this film on audiences and 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 in someone else’s story.”

Looking Ahead for Zoe and Emilia Pérez

Emilia Pérez continues to earn critical acclaim, with Zoe Saldaña’s performance standing out among the positive reviews. Zoe is also receiving recognition for her Oscar-nominated role, making this an unforgettable year for the star.