Selena Gomez was ‘more nervous than ever’ for new musical role

Selena Gomez has admitted she was more nervous than ever when preparing for her latest role in the Spanish-language musical Emilia Pérez. The 32-year-old singer and actress, best known for hits like “Lose You to Love Me” and her role in Wizards of Waverly Place, plays Jessi Del Monte in the film directed by French filmmaker Jacques Audiard. Describing the experience as “the most nervous I’ve ever been for an audition,” Selena explained how this new role challenged her in ways she hadn’t expected.

The film, which has already garnered early Oscar buzz, follows the story of a Mexican cartel leader who fakes his own death and reinvents himself as a woman, Emilia Pérez. The plot explores themes of identity, transformation, and the complexities of love and loss. Selena plays Jessi, the wife of the cartel leader, whose life is turned upside down when her husband undergoes a gender transition.

When Selena first read the script, she admits she didn’t know how the film would come together. “I was like, ‘How on earth are they going to make this movie?'” she said during an interview with BBC Radio 1. However, she put her trust in Audiard’s vision and continued with the project, despite her reservations. “But we never doubted him ever,” she added. The film also stars Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón, and Adriana Paz.

Selena describes her character, Jessi, as a woman grappling with confusion, loss, and a deep emotional struggle. “She’s a mother, she’s struggling with losing the love of her life, and all the confusing parts of it,” she explained. In contrast, Zoe Saldaña, who plays a lawyer named Rita, notes that the film’s core focus is not on the crime thriller aspect, but on the journeys of four women trying to find their authentic selves. “It’s a journey of four women trying to find their authentic selves and their versions of freedom and love,” Zoe said, highlighting the deeper, more personal themes of the movie.

The character of Emilia Pérez, played by Karla Sofía Gascón, undergoes a dramatic transformation from a ruthless cartel leader to a woman seeking redemption. Before her transition, Emilia is portrayed as an “unredeemable character,” but as Zoe explains, the audience is left yearning for her redemption. “You would think it’s a crime thriller, but it’s so much more than that,” Zoe adds.

Despite the buzz surrounding the film, Emilia Pérez has received mixed reviews. While many have praised the performances of the cast, including Selena, some critics argue that the film “tries to be a lot of things, only to end up being about very little.” Others, like Empire, have critiqued the film for relying on “tropes of trans stories.” On the other hand, Variety has suggested that Emilia Pérez could be the first Netflix film to win an Oscar for Best Picture.

The film has already garnered acclaim, with the cast winning the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival. Critics have particularly highlighted Selena’s performance, with Entertainment Weekly calling her a “welcome surprise.” The magazine praised Selena for shedding any remaining traces of her Disney Channel origins, signaling her growth as an actress. Selena’s acting career has evolved since her breakthrough in Wizards of Waverly Place, with recent roles like her turn in Only Murders in the Building, for which she received critical acclaim and award nominations.

In Emilia Pérez, Selena knew she had to move away from her public persona as a pop star. “I knew I had to embody this other person,” she said. “It all had to come from her. I couldn’t be the pop star – as cheesy as that sounds.” Despite her vast success in both music and acting, Selena admits she still feels nerves when approaching a new role, particularly one as complex as Jessi. “I was so honored to be a part of it, and I knew Jacques [Audiard] was such a visionary,” she explained. “I just wanted to be a part of it.”

With Emilia Pérez set to be released in cinemas and on Netflix later this month, audiences are eager to see how the film unfolds. For Selena Gomez, this role represents a significant step in her career, and it’s clear that, even with her extensive experience, she continues to push herself creatively.