actor
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Robert Smith / Getty
One of film’s finest (with some questionable past decisions) has finally received her long overdue acclaim. Zoe Saldaña has won an Oscar Award for her work in Emilia Perez.
As per The Guardian, the actor had one of the biggest nights of her professional career. On Sunday (March 2), the film industry gathered at the 2024 Academy Awards to celebrate the best performances of the previous year. The category for “Best Supporting Actress” was stacked with top tier talent including Felicity Jones (The Brutalist), Monica Barbaro (A Complete Unknown), Ariana Grande (Wicked) and Isabella Rossellini (Conclave). Zoe Saldaña took home the award for her stellar work as Rita Mora Castro, a struggling lawyer who takes a Mexican cartel kingpin as a new client.
It was clear to everyone in attendance at the Dolby Theatre and viewers online that Zoe was taken by surprise with her win. “I am floored by this honor,” she explained. She first thanked her mother and remaining family but made sure to highlight her immigrant background. “I am a proud child of immigrant parents, with dreams and dignity and hardworking hands,” she said while trying to hold back her tears. “And I am the first American of Dominican origin to accept an Academy Award, and I know I will not be the last.”
She then closed out her speech with a reference to her late grandmother. “I hold the fact that I’m getting an award to a role where I got to sing and speak in Spanish — my grandmother, if she were here, she would be so delighted. This for my grandmother, Argentina Cesse. Thank you so much. Muchas gracias.”
While Emilia Perez has been met with general critical acclaim, the film has faced some ongoing criticism due to Karla Sofía Gascón, the film’s protagonist. The actor’s old social media posts are where she made some very derogatory remarks about Islam, the murder of George Floyd and more.
Additionally, Mexican media was very critical of the film for how it represented the country. As spotted on Variety, after her Oscar win she addressed the criticism at a press junket. “First of all, I’m very, very sorry that many Mexicans felt offended. That was never our intention. We spoke from a place of love,” she explained in the interview room. “I don’t share your opinion. For me, the heart of this movie was not Mexico. We were making a film about friendship. We were making a film about four women.”
You can see Zoe Saldaña’s acceptance speech below.
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Louis Gossett Jr., a celebrated actor who became the first Black man to win a Supporting Actor Academy Award, has died. Louis Gossett Jr. was also an Emmy Award winner for his appearance in the Roots miniseries.
The Associated Press reports that Louis Gossett Jr. died early Friday morning (March 29) in Santa Monica, Calif., with the news confirmed by the actor’s first cousin, Neal L. Gossett.
Gossett was born on May 27, 1936, in the Coney Island section of Brooklyn in New York City. At the age of 16, a teacher encouraged Gossett to try out for an acting part on Broadway and won the part. Gossett starred in Take A Giant Step, although he had no formal training.
Acting became Gossett’s passion despite having athletic skills as a basketball player and was offered a scholarship at New York University. Instead, Gossett turned his attention to theatre and never looked back.
According to his cousin, Gossett was more than his riches and fame; he used his position to address racism and was aligned with the likes of Nelson Mandela and others.
“Never mind the awards, never mind the glitz and glamor, the Rolls-Royces and the big houses in Malibu. It’s about the humanity of the people that he stood for,” his cousin told the AP.
Gossett won the Supporting Actor Academy Award in 1983 for his role in An Officer and A Gentleman. That same year, Gossett also took home the Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe. He also was a star in television, winning his lone Emmy Award in 1977 for his role in Roots. Gossett also won a Best Supporting Actor – television Golden Globe in 1992 for his role in The Josephine Baker Story.
Gossett is survived by his son Satie and daughter Sharron.
Louis Gossett Jr. was 87.
—
Photo: Howard Ruffner / Getty

Jamie Foxx
Image Credit: Larry Busacca/Getty Images
Entries:“Infatuation,” No. 92, July 30, 1994“Slow Jamz,” No. 1, Feb. 21, 2004“Gold Digger” by Kanye West feat. Jamie Foxx, No. 1, Sept. 17, 2005“Unpredicatable,” feat. Ludacris, No. 8, Feb. 11, 2006“Georgia” by Ludacris & Field Mob feat. Jamie Foxx, No. 39, Jan. 14, 2006“DJ Play a Love Song,” feat. Twista, No. 45, June 17, 2006“Please Excuse My Hands” by Plies feat. Jamie Foxx & The-Dream, No. 66, Oct. 4, 2008“Just Like Me,” feat. T.I., No. 49, Jan. 3, 2009“She Got Her Own” by Ne-Yo feat. Jamie Foxx & Fabolous, No. 54, March 7, 2009“Blame It,” feat. T-Pain, No. 2, May 16, 2009“Digital Girl,” feat. Drake, Kanye West & The-Dream, No. 92, Aug. 22, 2009“Winner,” feat. Justin Timberlake & T.I., No. 28, April 24, 2010“Fall for Your Type,” feat. Drake, No. 50, Feb. 19, 2011“You Changed Me,” feat. Chris Brown, No. 93, June 13, 2015“Jam” by Kevin Gates feat. Trey Songz, Ty Dolla $ign & Jamie Foxx, No. 97, Feb. 20, 2016
-
Pages