Emilia Perez Star Karla Sofia Gascón has spoken openly about her performance in Jacques Audiard's one-of-a-kind Spanish-language musical, saying that making history with an Oscar nomination was a possibility beyond her control.
The actress, a trans woman, has received critical acclaim since the film's debut at Cannes, winning the Best Actress award alongside co-stars Zoe Saldaña and Selena Gomez in May. Gascón masters two roles: one, a notorious cartel leader, and the other, a trans woman, Emilia Perezwho has been undergoing female hormone therapy for two years and is ready to complete the process of gender affirmation by faking her own death and leaving her life of crime behind.
At the San Sebastian Film Festival in Gascón’s native Spain on Sunday, the 52-year-old talks about the Oscar buzz she’s been getting after it was reported she’ll be nominated for the leading actress award. If nominated, she would be the first openly transgender actress to receive an Oscar nod.
Gascón spoke with The Hollywood Reporterher words, translated by a translator, on the Spanish coast, on why she wants the focus to be solely on her acting.
“You can do whatever you want to win [the Oscar]if you don't win it, you don't win it,” she said at the Hotel Maria Cristina. “I can't do anything other than present my work. If that happens, it would be wonderful for me as an actress, which is important. Sometimes, some people think they gave you the award because you are from a particular community, not because of your role, which bothers me.”
She continued: “I try to make sure that what's happening has to do with my performance as an actress, because everything else is out of my control. I'm not trying to be falsely modest here or anything like that, but I've played a role that very few people could have played.”
“Of course, I understand the importance of my collective and the people I belong to, but the only thing I can do is act. I want the important thing to be there too,” he added.
Gascón spoke of wanting to “applaud France” and Audiard for making a Spanish-language film submitted for Oscar consideration. She described being amazed by how open the French have been to her work and to the world of Latin America.
“The French love their language. They are very much a people unto themselves,” Gascón said. “That the French were able to open up and make a film like this in Spanish, with these Latin American characters, is incredible. For a French director and a French crew to make a film like this, I think is an incredible thing.”
Gascón spoke exclusively with DAY with Saldana and Gomez for Telluride on the bond they created, their journey to the project, and how it’s already reshaping their careers.
Emilia Perez screens at the San Sebastian Film Festival from 20 to 28 September. Read DAYthe review of the film and the “divine” Gascón here.