Karla Sofía Gascón, Reveals She Went ‘Too Deep’ With Her Character, Emilia Pérez: Jokes About Using ‘Exorcism’ To Snap Out Of It
Karla Sofía Gascón’s portrayal of the powerful and daring Emilia Pérez captured the hearts of audiences following the film’s debut at this year’s Cannes. Gascón skillfully portrayed not only the transgender woman and former drug lord but also the person they were before transitioning, showcasing her versatility. However, embodying such a complex character presented its own set of challenges!
Karla Sofía Gascón struggled to detach from her role as Emilia Pérez
The crime musical Emilia Pérez became the standout film at the Cannes Film Festival 2024, receiving an 11-minute standing ovation and the Best Actress Award shared among the four leading ladies— Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez, Zoe Saldaña, and Adriana Paz.
“They are stronger when they echo together, so we decided this year to honor Best Actresses,” announced festival jury member Lily Gladstone (Killers of The Flower Moon).
Gascón portrayed a multifaceted former drug cartel leader and transgender individual, immersing herself “too deeply” into her character. “There were moments when I lost sight of who I was, and so did my co-stars. I was so immersed in the character that it became very challenging for me to detach from it,” she told Variety.
She recalled feeling so consumed that during the final scenes and dubbing for the film, she “rejected those characters, wanting nothing to do with them.” Nevertheless, the actress was able to break free and humorously mentioned resorting to an “exorcism” to rid herself of Emilia Pérez.
Gascón shares how she convinced the creator of the film to cast her as Emilia
The actress disclosed that she was not Jacques Audiard’s initial choice to play the role of Emilia Pérez. Her character undergoes a gender-affirming surgery, leading to a significant transformation in the character’s physical, mental, and emotional state.
Prior to becoming Emilia, the character was known as Juan “Manitas” Del Monte, for which Audiard envisioned a male actor in the role.
“Initially, (Audiard) did not consider me for the role (of Juan “Manitas” Del Monte). He only wanted me to play the female role post-transition,” Gascón revealed. It took her a considerable amount of time to persuade him to allow her to portray both roles, and she eventually succeeded thanks to her dedication.
Gascón believed it to be a unique role, one that no actor would pass up the chance to “follow the character through its entire evolution.” She acknowledged that roles like Emilia Pérez are rare, even noting that some of the biggest stars, such as Javier Bardem or Marlon Brando, have taken on such roles in their careers.
The official release date for Emilia Pérez is yet to be announced.