Selena Gomez, a renowned US singer and actress, expressed her understanding of the challenges she faces in being taken seriously as an actor. Having initially gained fame as a child star on the Disney series “Wizards Of Waverly Place,” Gomez has since earned acclaim for her role in the Disney+ series “Only Murders In The Building,” where she stars alongside comedy icons Steve Martin and Martin Short.
At 32 years old, Gomez’s next project is the highly anticipated operatic musical “Emilia Perez.” The film, set in the Spanish-language, follows the story of a Mexican Cartel leader, portrayed by Karla Sofia Gascon, who enlists the help of a high-powered lawyer named Rita Moro Castro, played by Zoe Saldana, to assist in faking their own death and undergoing sex-reassignment operations.
At the BFI London Film Festival gala screening of the film, actress Gomez, known for her role as the drug lord’s wife, Jessi Del Monte, made a stunning appearance alongside her fellow cast members at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre in London. Speaking to the PA news agency on the red carpet, Gomez shared her thoughts on her evolving taste in film and her desire to collaborate with visionary filmmakers, expressing her aspiration to push boundaries and explore new horizons in her craft.
Selena Gomez expressed that she understands why people may have difficulty taking her seriously, but she was grateful that director Jacques Audiard saw potential in her. She mentioned feeling proud to be a part of the Spanish-speaking project and emphasized how speaking in Spanish allowed her to connect more deeply with her character. She also expressed gratitude for the opportunity to do so, particularly considering her cultural background and family. On the other hand, Zoe Saldana, known for her role in Avatar, shared her experience on the film set, describing the energy as one of her favorites. She found the atmosphere palpable and exciting, sometimes intense but in a passionate way, as everyone on set was fully committed to giving their best with open hearts.
Zoe Saldana shared that the group of women eagerly joined forces to collaborate with their “dream director” on a project they knew was a “niche of a niche of a niche movie.” She described the film as a musical in Spanish with opera influences, centered around the lives of four Hispanic women. Saldana emphasized that they anticipated the film would resonate with their individual fan bases, but they were pleasantly surprised by the overwhelmingly positive and impactful response it received at various film festivals. She expressed that the most rewarding aspect for her is the opportunity for audiences to experience a story they might not have encountered otherwise. “Emilia Perez” is set to premiere on Netflix on November 13th.
