Historic Win at Cannes: Best Actress Award Goes to Four Actresses
In a groundbreaking decision, the 77th Cannes Film Festival jury, led by Greta Gerwig, awarded the Best Actress prize to four performers for their roles in Jacques Audiard's new film, Emilia Perez. The awardees—Karla Sofia Gascon, Selena Gomez, Adriana Paz, and Zoe Saldana—all delivered exceptional performances, making a significant mark in cinematic history.
A highlight of the event was Karla Sofía Gascón, a 52-year-old transgender actress who began her gender transition at the age of 46. Despite strong anticipation that she would receive sole credit for the award, the jury's decision to share the honor softened the activist impact of awarding the trophy exclusively to a transgender actress. However, Gascón collected the trophy solo and delivered an emotionally charged speech dedicated to ‘all trans people who suffer all the time’. She emphasized the message of hope and transformation, urging everyone to strive to become better individuals.
Gascón’s journey to this moment has been remarkable. Born in Madrid on March 31, 1972, as Carlos Gascon, she knew from a young age that she wanted to act. After studying cinema, she began her career in the late 1980s, featuring in commercials and Spanish television series like Calle Nuevas, El Super, and El Pasado Es Mañana. Her efforts were recognized in the 2013 Mexican hit film, Nosotros Los Nobles. In 2018, at the age of 46, Gascon publicly came out as transgender through her autobiographical book Karsia: An Extraordinary Story, while also transitioning from male to female.
Gascon's determination and passion did not wane. She starred in the television series Rebelde in 2022 and gained wide acclaim. Her role in Emilia Perez, a musical comedy, thriller, and melodrama, set against the backdrop of Mexican drug trafficking, was initially met with skepticism from director Jacques Audiard, who thought the heroine's pre-transition role should be played by a male actor. Gascon's perseverance and convincing performance during a video-conference casting and a subsequent meeting with Audiard in Paris won her the dual roles in the film.
Gascon praised Jacques Audiard during the film's Cannes press conference, acknowledging the unique and challenging opportunity he presented her. She shared that embodying the character of Emilia Perez required immense dedication, pushing her to her limits. Both her and the film's success highlight the evolving narratives in cinema and the power of inclusivity.
- During her acceptance speech, Karla Sofia Gascon expressed her gratitude towards Jacques Audiard, acknowledging him as the best director in the world. She emphasized the exceptional opportunity he provided her in playing such a complex and transformative role.
- The film *Emilia Perez* revolves around a drug trafficker who feels deeply female and undergoes a gender transition to change their life. Gascon's powerful portrayal of this character not only captivated audiences but also brought crucial representation to transgender individuals in mainstream cinema.
