Karla Sofia Gasconis having a whirlwind year.
I witness a mere fraction of it when she rushes onto our video call, ever so slightly delayed.
Excuse me for this crazy life I have, she says, out of breath.
Karla Sofia Gascón
Even aflutter, shes captivating.
She shows me Paris from her open window.
And many believe she could be the first openly trans actor nominated for an Oscar.
Emilia Pérez. (Featured L-R) Karla Sofía Gascón as Emilia Pérez and Zoe Saldaña as Rita Moro Castro in Emilia Pérez.
But Gascon was as dubious as anyone when she first heard about the ambitious project.
I thought, Well, this cant be possible, she says via a translator.
And I hated musicalstheyre what I least wanted to work on.
Emilia Pérez. (L-R) Karla Sofía Gascón as Emilia Pérez and Adriana Paz as Epifanía in Emilia Pérez.
Skepticism aside, there was also the minor detail of her being neither a dancer nor a singer.
I think Shakira will still beat me at the Grammys, she jokes.
Prior to shooting, Audiard and Gascon extensively discussed Emilia and the transition experience.
Karla Sofía Gascón as Emilia Pérez
Karlas talent comes from her very life, from the singularity of her experience, the director says.
Whats it like to live in a body you dont want?
And they managed to collaborate without speaking any common language; Gascon claims, half-jokingly, they used telepathy.
Audiard originally intended for Manitas and Emilia to be played by different actors, until Gascon convinced him otherwise.
All humans have darkness and light, and the movie is about that transition from one to the other.
Through this film I realized that men have more freedom physically but are more constrained mentally.
And women have more physical limitations but are much more mentally free.
Emilia eventually concocts a risky scheme to reunite with her family under the guise of a relative.
Im a mother, and I used to be a father.
Thats when I knew Id need a kind of exorcism after the film.
She also found a darker place of resonance.
At its heartEmilia Perezis about freedom and living with fulfillment and authenticity.
Many human beings are forced into a life because society has us trapped.
But when Emilia sees a door to escape, she manages to open it.
She acknowledges that Emilia is a once-in-a-career role for any actor, regardless of gender.
Thats my real fearthat my next characters wont be able to live up to Emilia Perez, she says.
So shes aiming for something totally differentand a bit lighter.
Gascon ultimately hopesEmilia Perezempowers viewers.
The films most beautiful message is that perhaps all of us can escape a difficult life.
I hope people see that you might changetheres always a second chance.
Emilia Perezis in select theaters now and streaming on Netflix on November 13.
