Zoe Saldaña Was ‘Thinking About Plan Bs’ Before Finding Success with Emilia Pérez: ‘Do I Start Planning a Garden and Baking Goods?’

In the wake of Zoe Saldaña’s win at the 2025 Golden Globe Awards, the actress admitted she had thoughts about leaving her career as an actor behind.

The Emilia Pérez star won the award for best performance by a female actor in a supporting role on Sunday, Jan. 5, one of the Netflix film’s show-best four award wins for the night.

“I feel an absolute joy. Joy because there’s a sense of presence,” Saldaña, 46, told reporters in a press room after her win when asked what the critical recognition for Emilia Pérez means to her.

“I’ve always had good human beings and amazing undeniable talent, undeniably talented filmmakers believe in me and bet on me, trust me and consistently, so this recognition is, it’s paramount for my continuation as an artist,” she added. “And there are no books. I’m happy. I’m just, I’m 46. There was a moment a couple of years ago where I was sort of thinking about plan Bs. Like, do I go into a homestead and start planning a garden and baking goods? But the truth is I’m an artist through and through and I need to create every day. If not, I just don’t know what I can do. I don’t know why I’m here. And that’s how my loved ones can get the [best] of me, when I’m allowed to create.” 

Saldaña, who shares three sons with her husband of 11 years, Marco Perego, has starred in blockbuster movie franchises with the Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers and Avatar films. However, Emilia Pérez marks the first time she has received significant critical acclaim for her acting.

The movie costars Karla Sofía Gascón and Selena Gomez; it also won awards for best motion picture: comedy or musical, best non-English language motion picture and best original song at the Globes.

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“Oh my God,” Saldaña said during her speech on Jan. 5, as she tearfully accepted her award from presenters Dwayne Johnson and Auliʻi Cravalho. “I’m filled with adrenaline, but my heart is full of gratitude.

After speaking more about how much the award meant to her and praising her costars, Saldaña also shouted out her family. “I love you — you guys are everything,” she said.

Emilia Pérez is streaming on Netflix now; the film received 10 nominations at the upcoming Critics Choice Awards, which will be held Jan. 12.