diff --git a/rest_framework/validators.py b/rest_framework/validators.py
index 4c444cf01e..4b43910db9 100644
--- a/rest_framework/validators.py
+++ b/rest_framework/validators.py
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@
 object creation, and makes it possible to switch between using the implicit
 `ModelSerializer` class and an equivalent explicit `Serializer` class.
 """
+import re
+
 from django.core.exceptions import FieldError
 from django.db import DataError
 from django.db.models import Exists
@@ -216,13 +218,14 @@ def __eq__(self, other):
 
 
 class ProhibitSurrogateCharactersValidator:
+    _regex = re.compile(r'[\ud800-\udfff]')
+
     message = _('Surrogate characters are not allowed: U+{code_point:X}.')
     code = 'surrogate_characters_not_allowed'
 
     def __call__(self, value):
-        for surrogate_character in (ch for ch in str(value)
-                                    if 0xD800 <= ord(ch) <= 0xDFFF):
-            message = self.message.format(code_point=ord(surrogate_character))
+        if match := self._regex.search(str(value)):
+            message = self.message.format(code_point=ord(match.group()))
             raise ValidationError(message, code=self.code)
 
     def __eq__(self, other):