In film, there are such roles that move an actor on some very deep human level. For Karla Sofía Gascón, Emilia Pérez was definitely that. She stood out as a character in a film but, as the role, because it talked to her about her journey of self-discovery, acceptance, and transformation.
Gascón is known for her commitment to authenticity, and when she signed up for Emilia Pérez, she got herself into some pretty extraordinary position. Directed by the visionary Jacques Audiard, the film follows a man-on-the-run story in which a man disguises himself as a woman only to find himself undergoing an unpredictable transformation. This full course of twists, humor, and heart-wrenching revelations provided Gascón with a unique canvas from which she proceeded to explore her own truths as a transgender woman.
Gascón had spoken about it in interviews-to remind oneself and people around of the freedom that the process of portraying Emilia Pérez gave her to rediscover herself on a deeper level. “Emilia is part of me,” she shared. This character’s metamorphosis-to-adopting a new identity by shattering off the molds of what was expected of him-was like looking in the mirror. For Gascón, Emilia Pérez is freedom through a narrative which spoke of her personal loss and victory as a woman that turns against the current of tradition.
In a candid moment, she spoke of how it felt cathartic to shoot the film. “Emilia’s journey made me feel things I thought I’d long buried,” she said. “It allowed me to see the beauty in my own transformation and celebrate it rather than hide from it.” Only in telling these stories does one come across a sense of liberation that comes with identification with one’s life path.
Gascón’s casting for Audiard became a part of the authenticity of telling this story. According to Audiard, only a person with real-life experience like Gascón can bring vulnerability and strength to play Emilia Pérez convincingly. Gascón’s journey adds to the depth of the film, and his both on-screen and off-screen journey makes Emilia Pérez a powerful story of reinvention and resilience.
Emilia Pérez is one good example of the revolutionary magic of cinema for its spectators and also for those performers who give life to it. Gascón’s performance now announces itself as a breakthrough performance talking about her own struggle in searching for identity and belongingness. Through Emilia Pérez, Karla Sofía Gascón finally gained liberation—and, through it, has given the audiences an excellent story about courage, change, and self-acceptance.
