The 97th Academy Awards featured a special moment involving Marco Perego, the husband of actress Zoe Saldaña, albeit unintentionally.
Upon receiving the award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in *Emilia Pérez*, Saldaña thanked her husband, mentioning “his beautiful hair” and recalling their three children. Emotional, Perego covered his face with his hands, while actress Penélope Cruz, sitting beside him, comforted him.
Born in Salò, Italy, Marco Perego Saldaña made a name for himself as a visual artist after moving to New York, where he initially worked in bars and restaurants to support himself. The son of a waiter and a homemaker, he had to give up his soccer career at the age of 21 due to an injury.
Seeking a new path, Perego pursued art and managed to exhibit his works in prestigious galleries such as Art Basel, the Royal Arts Academy in London, and Galerie Gmurzynska in Zurich.
He also collaborated with Dolce & Gabbana, painting the backgrounds for a campaign by the fashion house.
The love story between Perego and Saldaña began on a flight to New York in 2013. “I saw him from behind. It was 6:30 in the morning, and I was on a flight to New York. I can’t even describe it: I know many people don’t believe in love at first sight; I didn’t either, but it happened,” the actress recounted. Since then, the couple has built a family and has three children: twins Cy Aridio and Bowie Ezio, and their youngest, Zen Hilario.
In January 2025, when Zoe Saldaña was nominated for an Oscar for her performance in *Emilia Pérez*, her children and husband surprised her with a chocolate cake decorated with the message: “We are so proud of you.” The family lives in a luxurious mansion in Montecito, California, valued at $17.5 million, with neighbors such as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Ellen DeGeneres, and Portia de Rossi.
Perego has also ventured into filmmaking. He directed and wrote *The Absence of Eden*, starring Saldaña as a Mexican immigrant named Isabelle. He was also an executive producer of the documentary *Bianconeri – Juventus Story* (2016) and the short film *Me + Her*. Last year, he directed the short film *Pombal*, with his wife in the lead role.
Photos: Instagram @zoesaldana. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
