Zoe Saldaña, celebrated for her powerful performances, delivered a deeply personal and inspiring acceptance speech at the 2025 Golden Globe Awards. The actress, honored for Best Supporting Actress in Emilia Pérez, took the stage at The Beverly Hilton with both gratitude and candor.
Zoe Saldaña On Having Dyslexia
During her emotional speech, Saldaña revealed her struggles with dyslexia, a learning disorder affecting her ability to process written language. “I know I don’t have much time,” she began, addressing the crowd. “And I have dyslexia, so I tend to forget, especially when I’m anxious and filled with adrenaline.”
Her honesty resonated with the audience, who offered warm applause. While the admission was brief, it marked a pivotal moment in her speech. Saldaña has previously shared how dyslexia has shaped her career choices. “The challenges I’ve had… prevented me from going after roles I knew I could do,” she told Variety.
For years, the actress stuck to action-heavy franchises like Guardians of the Galaxy and Avatar, which required fewer extensive monologues. More dialogue-driven projects, like her role in Special Ops: Lioness, tested her limits. “I would memorize, memorize, memorize,” she explained. “By the time the scene came, it felt like ballet.”
Saldaña’s openness highlights the hurdles faced by individuals with learning disabilities. Dyslexia, which affects 10-20% of people globally, makes tasks like reading and memorizing particularly challenging. Despite this, Saldaña found ways to adapt, such as working with line readers and preparing scripts weeks in advance.
Her speech served as a message of hope. “I’m acknowledging that I’m scared,” she said. “But I don’t want to stop growing. I have so much more to learn.”
Fans and fellow actors praised her vulnerability, noting her courage to bring awareness to dyslexia. By sharing her story, Saldaña hopes to inspire others not to let their struggles define them.
Saldaña concluded her speech with a heartfelt shoutout to her family, saying, “I love you — you guys are everything.”