Zoe Saldaña became the first American of Dominican origin to receive this award, offering key takeaways that could echo with women of color in their careers.

Zoe Saldaña won the Academy Award for best supporting actress for her performance in the Spanish-language musical “Emilia Pérez.” She plays Rita, a downtrodden Mexico City lawyer who decides to accept an offer to help Emilia Pérez, a drug cartel boss played by Karla Sofía Gascón, set up a new life after receiving gender-affirming surgery.

Zoe Saldaña won the Oscar for supporting actress for her role as an attorney for a cartel leader in Jacques Audiard’s “Emilia Pérez,” and paid tribute to the cast and her own family in an emotional speech. Saldaña shouted out the “Emilia Pérez” cast in her Oscar acceptance speech, saying “Thank you to the Academy, …