Zoe Saldaña has achieved a remarkable milestone by winning the Best Supporting Actress award at the 97th Academy Awards for her role in “Emilia Pérez.” Her performance included singing the Oscar-winning song “El Mal,” making her part of a select group of actors who have won competitive Oscars for roles that featured singing a song that also won an Oscar. This feat has only been accomplished five times in Oscar history.
Saldaña’s victory marks her first Oscar win and follows a sweep of major awards this season, including the Golden Globes, Critics’ Choice Awards, BAFTAs, and SAG Awards. She was recognized for her portrayal of Rita Mora Castro, a Mexican lawyer, in “Emilia Pérez,” a film that also sparked controversy due to its depiction of Mexican culture and themes related to transgender experiences147.
Historical Context
While Saldaña’s achievement is notable, it’s also worth acknowledging two actors who received honorary Oscars for performances that included singing Oscar-winning songs. Judy Garland received an honorary Academy Award in 1940 for her role as Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz,” where she sang “Over the Rainbow,” which won Best Original Song that year6. James Baskett was honored in 1948 for his performance in “Song of the South,” which featured the Oscar-winning song “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah”3.
Other Actors Who Achieved This Feat
Here are the five actors who have won competitive Oscars for performances that included singing a song that also won an Oscar:
Bing Crosby (1945): Won Best Actor for “Going My Way,” singing “Swinging on a Star.”
Julie Andrews (1965): Won Best Actress for “Mary Poppins,” singing “Chim Chim Cher-ee.”
Jeff Bridges (2010): Won Best Actor for “Crazy Heart,” performing “The Weary Kind (Theme From Crazy Heart).”
Emma Stone (2017): Won Best Actress for “La La Land,” singing “City of Stars.”
Zoe Saldaña (2025): Won Best Supporting Actress for “Emilia Pérez,” singing “El Mal.”
Each of these performances highlights the unique intersection of acting and music in film, where the impact of a song can elevate an actor’s role to Oscar-winning status.
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