Selena Gomez was thrilled to learn that she, along with Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofia Gascón, and Adriana Paz, had collectively won the Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival. The news was delivered to Gomez while she was in Central Park in New York City, having a picnic with friends. Gascón was still in France to accept the honor at the closing ceremony, where their film “Emilia Pérez” also won the Jury Prize. The director of the film, Greta Gerwig, explained that the jury couldn’t single out one star from the movie, as it felt like everyone was shining and working together as a unit.
Gerwig further elaborated on the decision to award Best Actress to all four women, stating that their performances in “Emilia Pérez” were transcendent when they worked together as a group. Lily Gladstone, another jury member, echoed this sentiment by comparing the actresses to individual notes in a harmony that sounds stronger when they resound together. The film premiered at the festival one week prior, receiving a standing ovation that left Gomez and her costars in tears. Gomez expressed her gratitude to Cannes for the honor, emphasizing the special and meaningful experience of being part of “Emilia Pérez.”
Acting in Spanish for the film was a significant change for Gomez, who admitted in an interview that she felt she could have done better in the language. Despite this, she was grateful for the opportunity and embraced the challenge of portraying her character Jessie. Saldaña, whose first language is Spanish, commended Gomez for her hard work and dedication to the role, emphasizing that the language never hindered the emotion she conveyed. The experience of working on “Emilia Pérez” was a profound one for Gomez, who expressed her admiration for her costars and the entire team behind the film.
The musical aspect of “Emilia Pérez” allowed Gomez to explore a new dimension of her acting abilities, pushing herself to adapt to a different language and convey the emotions of her character effectively. The film, directed by Jacques Audiard, resonated with audiences and critics at the festival, earning recognition for the ensemble cast’s collective performance. The decision to honor all four actresses with the Best Actress Award was a testament to the chemistry and unity they displayed on screen, creating a harmonious and impactful portrayal of the complex relationships in the film. Overall, the success of “Emilia Pérez” at Cannes was a testament to the collaborative effort and dedication of everyone involved.
