Behind the scenes with the perfect supporting actress Oscar nominees on the 2025 Academy Awards

On the 97th annual Academy Awards, offered on March 2, Zoe Saldaña received the perfect supporting actress Oscar for “Emilia Pérez.” Watch scenes from the successful efficiency and others nominated within the class of finest supporting actress, in addition to interviews with the nominees beneath. 

Monica Barbaro, “A Full Unknown” 

In James Mangold’s Bob Dylan biopic “A Full Unknown,” we comply with the trail of the younger singer-songwriter starting together with his arrival in New York Metropolis in 1961. Dylan’s rise to fame is just not quick, being within the shadow of one other star in folks music circles, Joan Baez (finest supporting actress nominee Monica Barbaro). However the two quickly join and share a passionate affair, regardless of Dylan residing with one other lady (Elle Fanning).

On this scene, Dylan and Baez sing a duet of a track in Dylan’s pocket book. Their simple musical chemistry simply may result in one thing extra:

Because the movie advances, their rocky relationship turns into the subtext of their public performances. On this scene, they sing a duet on the Newport People Pageant of Dylan’s “It Ain’t Me Babe,” a track with hidden undercurrents, particularly for Fanning watching from off-stage:

Baez would document a number of Dylan songs, and their relationship continued for just a few years. She would later tour with Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue within the mid-’70s, and the 2 collaborated on initiatives into the ’80s, with their ’60s romantic affiliation turning into fodder for memoirs, music treatises and documentaries. (Baez herself recalled her first impression of Dylan in her 1987 autobiography, “And a Voice to Sing With”: “His eyes have been as outdated as God, and he was fragile as a winter leaf.”)

Barbaro instructed the Los Angeles Occasions she understood Baez’s attraction to Dylan. “She fell in love with the poet, the particular person keen to say what he was keen to say. I believe she fell in love with the phrases themselves and the way he was saying issues she was looking for the phrases for,” Barbaro mentioned. “They usually have been so younger. If I attempt to unpack my relationships at 20 … I can not think about that being inspected on a public degree for many years to return.”

To play Baez, Barbaro studied the guitar and took vocal classes for a yr to match Baez’s incomparable soprano. “Each dialog about Joan’s voice, you hear about her vibrato, the important thing she sings in and the angelic high quality. It was about getting these issues so it was recognizable,” she instructed the Occasions. “I leaned into getting as near her as potential. And on the day, you place the preparation on the shelf and obtain the particular person in entrance of you in an actual genuine second.”

On this interview for Selection, Barbaro, costar Timothée Chalamet and Mangold talk about the singing sequences. Barbaro mentioned, “By way of the music, I imply, it was necessary to all of us to not have a bunch of kind of carbon copies of those musicians, or any kind of signal of mimicry within the movie, and but they need to be recognizable variations of those musicians.”

Of the film’s message — how artwork used to deal with points like social justice and conflict — Barbaro instructed the Occasions, “The best factor about this movie is attending to see audiences who lived then and [see them] really feel like their time was understood.”

Barbaro studied dance and ballet whereas rising up within the Bay Space. She graduated from NYU’s Tisch Faculty of the Arts, and acted in “Chicago Justice,” “The Good Cop,” and the Tom Cruise blockbuster “High Gun: Maverick,” as Lt. Natasha “Phoenix” Hint. That is her first Oscar nomination. She additionally acquired two Display screen Actors Guild nominations for her efficiency.

Nominated for 8 Academy Awards, together with finest image and finest director, “A Full Unknown,” launched by Searchlight Footage, is enjoying in theaters and is accessible through VOD.

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Ariana Grande, “Depraved”

Primarily based on the long-running Broadway musical, “Depraved” is a prequel to “The Wizard of Oz,” presenting the origin story of Elphaba, the Depraved Witch of the West. What was her relationship with the Good Witch of the East, and the way did it flip so unhealthy?

The story is instructed in flashback by means of Glinda, the ravishingly well-liked scholar at Shiz College, the place the 2 meet. Initially an outcast, Elphaba attracts the eye of a professor of magic, Madame Morrible — and Glinda finds herself eagerly making an attempt to get into each their good graces, for her personal development.

Watch this excerpt of Glinda promoting herself as a tutor to her new cost — finest actress nominee Cynthia Erivo — within the methods of turning into “Standard”:

In 2018 Grande appeared alongside the celebrities of Broadway’s “Depraved,” Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel, in a televised live performance celebrating the present’s fifteenth anniversary, “A Very Depraved Halloween.” Grande sang “The Wizard and I” (which within the present is sung by Elphaba). Three years later, Grande had her first audition for the a part of Glinda within the film model.

In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, Grande mentioned her audition course of for “Depraved,” for which she sang “No One Mourns the Depraved” and “Standard.” “Regardless that it was very clear that I used to be entering into for Glinda, I additionally sang ‘The Wizard and I’ and ‘Defying Gravity’ twice. … I simply keep in mind leaving buzzing,” she mentioned.

The casting of Grande as Glinda, and Erivo as Elphaba, was universally praised, as they have been seemingly born for the elements. Chenoweth, the actress who originated Glinda on stage, instructed “Leisure Tonight” that when Grande received the position, the younger singer known as her: “And we each squealed. She mentioned, ‘I would like your assist.’ I mentioned, ‘You do not want my assist. Simply do you.'”

In December Grande was interviewed by the SAG-AFTRA Basis about her efficiency within the movie. “I’ve beloved these songs since I used to be 10 years outdated, and I’ve sung them for enjoyable within the automobile, within the bathe, rising up,” she mentioned. “Even once I bought older, once I was nervous to carry out or one thing, I might flip to the soundtrack for consolation once I was warming as much as do a present. It is simply humorous as a result of once you spend time with the lyrics and dig into what’s taking place in-between the traces, you get to know what’s taking place in a really totally different means than simply singing in a automobile.”

Grande described the questions she requested of her character: “Why is she so fascinated with Elphaba? What’s the magic that [Elphaba] has that Glinda does not? And what are her insecurities? And what’s not on the web page — what’s motivating her to provide [Elphaba] the hat, when deep down she does not need to?”

Months earlier than her first audition, Grande labored along with her vocal coach to arrange: “The vocal cords, like another muscle within the physique, they’re recurring; it’s a must to prepare them to do new issues. And I naturally have a excessive vary and I sing whistle tones and I sing excessive notes, however it’s very totally different than singing coloratura soprano, a classical operatic. I knew I wished to go in for Glinda, so I wished to coach my voice as a lot as I may in order that by the point my first audition got here round it sounded genuine and heat and totally and really like what’s required of Glinda.”

Grande, who has received two Grammy Awards and reportedly offered greater than 90 million information, beforehand appeared in “Do not Look Up.” That is her first Academy Award nomination.

Nominated for 10 Oscars, together with finest image, “Depraved,” from Common Footage, is in theaters and obtainable through VOD.

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Felicity Jones, “The Brutalist”

In Brady Corbet’s post-World Struggle II drama “The Brutalist,” finest actor nominee Adrien Brody stars as László Tóth, a Hungarian Jewish architect, who emigrates to the USA and finds that his efforts to renew his profession are hampered by antisemitism and classism in America.

The primary half of the three.5-hour epic tracks Tóth’s journey from Ellis Island to a plum fee: designing and developing an enormous neighborhood heart in Pennsylvania. Years after his arrival, he’s joined by his spouse, Erzsébet (supporting actress nominee Felicity Jones), and their marriage should accommodate each a brand new nation and the gap that has grown between them – strangers in a wierd land.

On this scene, Erzsébet is being welcomed by Toth’s patron, industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren (finest supporting actor nominee Man Pearce), whose propensity for belittling others comes throughout even in a supposedly pleasant dinner:

Erzsébet’s bodily limitations do not appear to constrict her feelings, with which she challenges László, each in their very own relationship and in his service to Van Buren.

“This script, when it got here by means of, I believe all of us concerned knew that it was particular,” Jones instructed BBC Radio’s “Girl’s Hour.” “It was uncommon to learn one thing that had this depth of character in it, and this big epic sweeping story that is underpinned by these very intimate, home, very exactly drawn moments.

“I used to be extremely moved by it essentially, and I felt that Erzsébet was this magnificent character. She was somebody who is totally unafraid of who she is. Once we meet her, you notice she’s been by means of unimaginable trauma; she’s been by means of focus camps alongside her husband (in several camps, however they have been by means of very related experiences), and I felt there was an important problem in conveying this lady’s expertise. She’s extremely completed; I do significantly like the road the place, ‘Did you not inform them something about me?’  I believe that would have solely been written by a girl!”

Although bodily weak and malnourished, Erzsébet displays a strong forthrightness, and a willingness to problem others. “You get to be taught really that she’s exceptionally sturdy all through the movie,” Jones mentioned. 

Capturing on movie (“The Brutalist” was produced in VistaVision, to be blown as much as 70mm) was an added factor of her efficiency versus capturing on digital, Jones instructed the viewers at a New York Movie Pageant screening final fall. “It offers extra worth to what you are doing as a result of it feels someway extra treasured,” she mentioned. “It does not really feel like you’ll be able to simply maintain going and going for hours and hours. You recognize, in that second when it is ‘Motion!’ you do really feel like you have to make, you have to carry out in that second. And everybody does — solid, crew, everybody has to provide their finest, as a result of it isn’t limitless, and [celluloid] prices a fortune!”

Jones, who was beforehand nominated for finest supporting actress for enjoying the spouse of physicist Stephen Hawking in “The Concept of All the pieces,” starred within the “Star Wars” prequel “Rogue One,” “On the Foundation of Intercourse” (enjoying a younger Ruth Bader Ginsburg), and “The Aeronauts.”

Nominated for 10 Academy Awards, together with finest image and finest director, The Brutalist,” launched by A24, is enjoying in theaters and is accessible through VOD. 

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Isabella Rossellini, “Conclave” 

“Conclave,” based mostly on the Robert Harris thriller, dramatizes the intrigues contained in the Vatican because the School of Cardinals meets to pick out a brand new pontiff following the loss of life of the pope. Cardinal Thomas Lawrence (finest actor nominee Ralph Fiennes) leads the conclave, and serves each as a peaceful, guiding presence, and as an investigator of disturbing allegations involving a number of candidates to guide the Holy See.

On this scene, Sister Agnes (finest supporting actress nominee Isabella Rossellini) interrupts the cardinals’ uproar over a secret report about one papal candidate’s actions with data of her personal. Well mannered but additionally passive-aggressive, Sister Agnes’ perspective undercuts the patriarchal stance of the Church, by offering an ethical counterweight to the cardinals’ deliberations:

Rossellini’s character has few traces, however an important presence. In an interview on “The Late Present with Stephen Colbert,” Rossellini mentioned, “Within the Catholic Church there’s a very sturdy hierarchy, and ladies, they’ve a job of actually serving the cardinals. That does not imply that even when you’ve got a subservient position they do not have authority. And so, it was unbelievable to play a job the place I haven’t got any traces, however everyone’s a bit of bit afraid of me!”

She instructed the Los Angeles Occasions that she used the constraints of her character to her benefit: “We had three or 4 days of rehearsal, however I used to be nervous,” she mentioned. “I assumed possibly Sister Agnes could be nervous, too, so I used that. I did not need to repress it. She’s not a part of the brawl with the boys. She does not get into the opinion of who ought to be the subsequent pope. When she does converse, she speaks what she is aware of and goes again to her vow of being silent and invisible and obedient. …

“I do not suppose she would have spoken up on another side of the church,” Rossellini mentioned. “However the place the pope was going to be elected, she was going to be trustworthy to her vow. She simply needs all of it accomplished appropriately.”

The daughter of actress Ingrid Bergman and director Robert Rossellini, she made her first movie look in “A Matter of Time,” reverse her mom, after which starred within the Taviani Brothers’ “The Meadow.” Her subsequent movies included “White Nights,” David Lynch’s “Blue Velvet,” “Robust Guys Do not Dance,” “Siesta,” “Cousins,” “Wild at Coronary heart,” “Loss of life Turns into Her,” “Fearless,” “Wyatt Earp,” “Immortal Beloved,” “Massive Night time,” and “The Saddest Music within the World.” She acquired an Emmy nomination for a visitor look on “Chicago Hope.”

That is Rossellini’s first Oscar nomination. She was additionally nominated for a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, and a Display screen Actors Guild Award.

“Conclave” is enjoying in theaters and is accessible through VOD.

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Zoe Saldaña, “Emilia Pérez”

Within the crime drama “Emilia Perez,” Rita, a protection legal professional (finest supporting actress nominee Zoe Saldaña), is launched despairing about her consumer, about corruption, and about her personal values (she principally lies to assist the defendant skate off a homicide cost). And since it is a musical, Rita’s feelings and inside battle are offered through track and dance:

Directed by Jacques Audiard, “Emilia Pérez” leads this yr’s Oscar race with 13 nominations, together with finest image, director and screenplay. Its melodrama — a Mexican drug lord transitions to develop into a girl, after which seeks to reconnect with their spouse and youngsters — is served up with flashy choreography and 16 songs by Camille and composer Clément Ducol.

Saldaña’s Rita is employed by the drug lord to assist faux his loss of life and safe his transition from Manitas to Emilia. However 4 years later, Emilia reenters Rita’s life, and seeks her assist in reuniting along with her household in Mexico. Rita is thrown again right into a miasma of corruption and hypocrisy, which she sings about in “El Mal” (nominated for finest unique track), together with finest actress nominee Karla Sofía Gascón and the artist Camille:

Saldaña’s efficiency — performing, singing and dancing, in three languages — has already earned her the Golden Globe, BAFTA and Display screen Actors Guild awards. 

She instructed the Hollywood Reporter essentially the most difficult side of the position was “not getting in my very own means! And kind of simply being in Rita’s pores and skin and understanding her journey. You recognize it takes self-discipline to not kind of, like, choose a personality as you are approaching it and also you’re placing it collectively. You type of go, ‘Nicely, I would not do what she did,’ and it is like, ‘Nicely there isn’t any, it isn’t a she, it is an I, it is a me, and the place am I? I am determined proper now, I would like a means out. I am over labored, I am burned out’ — I am speaking as Rita, and I wanted to be kind of like in that head area. And when you’re in there, then abruptly, this complete story takes on a brand-new life.”

It is her dance strikes (from her early coaching in ballet), as seen in her early movie appearances “Heart Stage” and “Drumline,” that resonate in her “Emilia Pérez” character. However Saldaña is best-known for starring in blockbuster franchises, from “Star Trek” (as Uhura), to “Avatar” (as Neytiri), and “Guardians of the Galaxy” (as Gamora).  She’s additionally starred in “Columbiana,” “Nina,” “Amsterdam,” and the sequence “Lioness.” 

“When you’re part of initiatives which might be so massive and so they develop into so profitable, sure, you reap the advantages of it and you’re grateful,” she instructed The New York Occasions. “However there is part of me as an artist that simply stopped rising and accepting challenges.”

When Audiard (whose earlier movies embody “A Prophet” and “Rust and Bone”) requested to speak with Saldaña about “Emilia Pérez,” Saldaña was hesitant, because the character was initially written to be in her 20s, and would require in depth singing. However after an hour-and-a-half Zoom name, throughout which Saldaña even sang, Audiard rewrote the half for her — and postponed capturing to accommodate Saldaña’s schedule. And as soon as she arrived in Paris for filming, she discovered the director drawing on the actress’ personal perspective for Rita. “It felt like an experiment the place we have been discovering issues as we went, and that is how the primary ‘Avatar’ was shot,” she instructed The Occasions. “Ever since then, I have been looking for that top once more of being with a seasoned, prolific director and having the director take a look at you going, ‘I do not know, what do you suppose?'”

The jury eventually yr’s Cannes Movie Pageant thought sufficient of “Emilia Pérez” that they awarded the pageant’s finest actress prize to the movie’s 4 leads (Saldaña, Gascón, Selena Gomez and Adriana Paz). That is Saldaña’s  first Oscar nomination.

“Emilia Pérez” is streaming on Netflix. 

UPDATED: Saldaña repeated her Oscar precursor wins, receiving the Academy Award for her efficiency.

In a shifting acceptance speech, Saldaña mentioned, “My grandmother got here to this nation in 1961. I’m a proud little one of immigrant dad and mom, with goals and dignity and hardworking arms, and I’m the primary American of Dominican origin to just accept an Academy Award, and I do know I cannot be the final, I hope. The truth that I am getting an award for a job the place I bought to sing and converse in Spanish, my grandmother, if she have been right here, she could be so delighted. That is for my grandmother, Argentina Cisse.”

She additionally praised her husband “with that stunning hair … the largest honor in my life is being your associate. You hung the moon, and our stunning good sons, Cy, Bowie, and Zen, they fill our skies each night time with stars.”

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Extra on the 2025 Oscars: