Karla Sofía Gascón created an Oscar history as the first openly trans woman to be nominated for her performance in Emilia Pérez. The Spanish star gained a Best Actress nomination for her portrayal of the titular role in Jacques Audiard’s musical crime film.
Netflix’s Spanish language crime musical earned a leading 13 Oscar nominations including best picture, international picture, lead actress (Karla Sofía Gascón), supporting actress (Zoe Saldaña) and best director (Jacques Audiard).
Her fellow nominees in this category include Cynthia Erivo in Wicked, Mikey Madison in Anora, Demi Moore in The Substance and Fernanda Torres in I’m Still Here.
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Who is Karla Sofía Gascón?
Born on 31st March 1972, Gascón built her career in America, featuring in comedy films like The Noble Family and the narco-series El Señor de los Cielos. Emilia Pérez was a breakout moment for Gascó, who transitioned in 2018 after years spent acting in Mexican telenovelas. The turning point of her career started when she auditioned in front of Audiard, the French film director and three-time Golden Globe winner.
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For Jacques Audiard, casting a trans woman for this project was very crucial. “If I had questions, I went to her. If there were things that bothered her, she told me and I changed them. The strength and power of her acting is rooted in her experience” he was quoted by USA Today.
He was initially planning to cast the character with a man and a woman, but Gascón insisted on playing both versions. “I don’t want others to do my part!” she quipped. “But more importantly, I’m an actress and I want to do roles that are as far away from me as possible.”
In Emilia Perez, Gascón plays the role of a Mexican drug lord who transitions through gender-affirming surgery and starts anew as a social worker. Her speech at the Golden Globes was an emotional tribute to her role in the movie. “You can maybe put us in jail. You can beat us up, but you never can take away our soul, our existence, our identity. And I want to say to you: Raise your voice for freedom,” she continued. "I am who I am- not who you want.”
Gascón’s openness about her transition has inspired countless individuals, especially members of the LGBTQ+ community. She advocates living authentically and believes that talent and authenticity combined have the power to transform not only individuals but also the world.
