Selena Gomez recently revealed that preparing for her latest role as Jessi Del Monte in Emilia Pérez, a Spanish-language musical directed by French filmmaker Jacques Audiard, was the most nerve-racking audition of her career.
Gomez, known for hits like Lose You To Love Me, described her nervousness, saying, “I’d never really properly done a musical before.”
The film follows a Mexican cartel leader who fakes his own death and transitions to live as a woman, Emilia Pérez.
Selena stars alongside Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón, and Adriana Paz, portraying Jessi, the wife who struggles with the loss of her husband and a complex web of emotions.
“Jessi is a mother, and she’s struggling with confusion – losing the love of her life and all the confusing parts of it,” Selena told BBC Radio 1.
Audiard’s unique storytelling initially left Gomez wondering how the film would come together. However, she trusted the director’s vision, saying, “We never doubted him ever.”
Saldaña, who plays Emilia’s lawyer, adds that despite the plot’s thrilling premise, the film is “a journey of four women trying to find their authentic selves.”
Emilia Pérez, which garnered positive reviews and Cannes accolades for the four lead actresses, explores themes of freedom, identity, and redemption.
Karla Sofía Gascón, a trans actress playing Emilia, shared her sense of responsibility and advocacy within the role, saying she has “done a lot of trying to educate people, to make them respect me.”
Though Emilia Pérez is praised by Entertainment Weekly for Selena’s “welcome surprise” performance, critics have had mixed reactions.
Variety hinted at the film’s Oscar potential, while Slant argued it “tries to be a lot of things, only to end up being about very little.” Empire also noted it leans on “tropes of trans stories.”
Set for a UK release in cinemas and on Netflix later this month, Emilia Pérez may be one of Selena Gomez’s most transformative roles yet, showcasing her shift from her Disney origins to a serious actress unafraid of taking creative risks.
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