- Selena Gomez embraced chaos in her Emilia Pérez audition, “blacking out” while dancing madly.
- Director Jacques Audiard pushed Gomez to go even crazier during her performance.
- Emilia Pérez received critical acclaim at Cannes, with Karla Sofia Gascon winning a historic award.
Selena Gomez’s audition for Emilia Pérez was anything but ordinary. At the film‘s Los Angeles premiere, Gomez recalled how director Jacques Audiard encouraged her to “go crazy” and act drunk during her audition, even suggesting she throw her shoes.
Emilia Pérez has been widely praised, especially following its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. The film, which centers on a cartel leader transitioning to live authentically as a trans woman, stars Karla Sofia Gascon, Zoe Saldana, and Edgar Ramirez.
Selena Gomez’s Daring Performance Lands Her Role in Emilia Pérez
During the Los Angeles premiere of Emilia Pérez, Selena Gomez revealed the unconventional audition process that led to her landing a key role. Director Jacques Audiard instructed Gomez to “go crazy” during her audition, asking her to act as if she were drunk and encouraging spontaneous behavior. She threw herself into the character’s emotional turmoil, portraying a scene where her character deals with her spouse’s transition to a new identity as Emilia Pérez.
The musical number she performed during the audition, Bienvenida, allowed Gomez to express the frustrations of her character, a woman grappling with her spouse’s transformation. After the first take, Audiard pushed Gomez to go even further, prompting her to lose herself in the performance. “I blacked out,” she admitted, reflecting on the intensity of her audition. Despite the chaos, Gomez’s uninhibited portrayal resonated with Audiard, who offered her the role.
The film itself, Emilia Pérez, has gained widespread acclaim since its debut at Cannes, where it received a standing ovation. With original music composed by French pop star Camille, the film’s ensemble cast, including Gomez, delivered powerful performances. Karla Sofia Gascon, who plays Emilia, made history by becoming the first openly trans actor to win a prestigious award at Cannes for her role.
The story follows Emilia Pérez, a feared cartel leader who fakes her own death to live authentically as a trans woman. Gomez plays a key character involved in this transformation. The film’s balance of dark themes and musical elements creates a unique narrative that explores identity, transformation, and acceptance. With positive reception from both critics and audiences, the film is expected to perform well upon its release on Netflix in mid-November.
Selena Gomez’s fearless commitment to her audition for Emilia Pérez helped her secure a role in one of the year’s most acclaimed films. Her willingness to embrace the chaos and deliver a raw, uninhibited performance shows her growing versatility as an actress.
“I was standing on furniture, and I blacked out, but I was just singing my heart out and dancing like a mad woman.” — Selena Gomez on her Emilia Pérez audition.
