Gomez has previously admitted feeling nervous about her possible first Academy Award nomination for Emilia Perez, telling E! News that the excitement around it has given her anxiety. In the film, she plays the wife of a drug lord who undergoes a gender transformation. "I don’t know what’s gonna happen. I’m stressed—I’m already breaking out,” Gomez shared with a laugh.
This role holds a special place for Gomez, who recounted her unique audition process with The Hollywood Reporter. When director Jacques Audiard asked her to act as if she were drunk and throw her shoes if needed, she dove right into the part. Recalling Audiard’s direction to "go crazy," she shared that she gave it her all. During her audition, Gomez even stood on furniture, singing and dancing wildly as if in a trance, channeling the "drunk mad woman" Audiard envisioned. Her dedication landed her a memorable scene in the film, a musical number called Bienvenida.
The movie, which also premiered at Cannes, features a star-studded cast including Karla Sofia Gascón, Zoe Saldana, Edgar Ramirez, and more.