WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Emilia Pérez.
Netflix’s crime comedy musicalEmilia Pérezfeatures Selena Gomez’s career-best film performance as the unstoppable Jessi Del Monte. Directed by French filmmaker Jacques Audiard (Rust and Bone,The Sisters Brothers), the genre-blending film delivers innovative music numbers and choreography infused with a gut-wrenching story about unfulfilled desire and regret. Gomez, Zoe Saldaña, and Karla Sofía Gascón lead thecast ofEmilia Pérez, which won theBest Actress Ensemble award at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. Gomez’s Jessi plays the wife of the powerful and dangerous cartel leader, Manitas Del Monte.
Gomez, 32, rose to prominence as an actress from her hit Disney Channel seriesWizards of Waverly Place(2007-2012) after appearing inSpy Kids 3: Game Over(2003),The Suite Life of Zach & Cody (2006), andHannah Montana(2007-2008). Besides creating and collaborating on massive songs such as “It Ain’t Me (with Kygo)”, “Wolves (with Marshmello)”, and “Love You To Love Me”, Gomez has starred in several feature films, includingSpring Breakers(2012),Hotel Transylvania(2012),Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising(2016), andDolitte(2020).She currently stars in theEmmy-award-winning comedy seriesOnly Murders in the Buildingalongside Steve Martin and Martin Short.
Selena Gomez’s Performance In Emilia Pérez Is Her Best Yet
Gomez’s Jessi is fierce and evoking in every frame
Selena Gomez plays the electric and unpredictable Jessi in Emilia Pérez, marking a new high for the accomplished singer and actress. Jessi is the promiscuous wife of Manitas who Saldaña’s Rita Moro Castro has to manage and range as Emilia undergoes her various operations during her physical transition. Although Gomez has the least screentime of the three star actresses in the film, she makes a fierce and evoking impression in every frame she’s in. She also has two original songs as part of theEmilia Pérezofficial soundtrack, one of which, titled"Mi Camino" is a top contender for the Best Original Song Oscar.
Gomez revealed how her role inEmilia Pérezhelped her connect to her Mexican heritage. As a non-native Spanish speaker, Gomez was committed to learning the language and gave her very best effort to the early Best Picture contender. “I may not be fluent, but that doesn’t make me less proud or less Mexican in my eyes. I think it’s about what my last name has always meant to me: it’s my family” (viaEntertainment Weekly).She has also stated that she’s open to taking on more Spanish-speaking rolesafterEmilia Pérez. “I was so excited, and the result was life-giving. I feel like whether it’s music or if it’s a part of a show or a movie, I am completely open.”
This Is The Follow-Up To Selena Gomez’s Spring Breakers Role We’ve Been Waiting For
Gomez’s role as Jessi inEmilia Pérezis the most daring and exhilarating role of her film career, which is arguably the exact type of role that the former Disney star needed. Gomez makes an entirely convincing Jessi and feels like the best possible choice for the role. What’s even more impressive is the fact thatshe only sings two of the songs on the soundtrack. It speaks volumes about Gomez’s performance that her acting abilities make a stronger impression than her singing in a musical. While she’s had some notable performances in the past, Gomes reached new heights as an actress inEmilia Pérez.
BeforeEmilia Pérez, Gomez’s performance in the early A24 film Spring Breakers(2012) might still have marked her career-best performance in a film. She has certainly developed herself as an actress on the critically acclaimed seriesOnly Murders in the Building, which earned her first-ever Emmy nomination in 2024. Apart from that, Gomez hasn’t stirred much buzz around her past film or television roles butEmilia Pérezhas already started to change that. While Spring Breakers featured Gomez as part of an ensemble,Emilia Pérezprovided Gomez with a more distinguished and compelling character that allowed her to flourishlike never before.
Will Selena Gomez Receive An Oscar Nomination?
She’s more likely to get a Golden Globe nomination
Gomez is sparking some early Supporting Actress Oscar buzz forEmila Pérez. However, a nomination is likely the best that she could attain given the exceptional performance of herco-star Zoe Saldaña in the film, who is utilized much more than Gomez. Saldaña is currentlyVariety’sfrontrunner for the 2025 Academy Award for Supporting Actress, followed by Saoirse Ronan inBlitz, Isabella Rossellini inConclave, Danielle Deadwyler inThe Piano Lesson, and Ariana Grande inWicked. She may have a better shot at picking up a Golden Globe nomination in the Comedy or Musical category forEmilia Pérez, which would be well deserved.
Emilia Perez
Cast
Emilia Perez is a drama film that follows the life of Emilia Perez, a determined and ambitious individual striving to make a name for herself in a competitive environment. The story explores her journey as she navigates the challenges and obstacles that come her way, all while uncovering the complexities of her own identity.
