Karla Sofía Gascón, the lead in Netflix’s Emilia Pérez, could make history at the upcoming Golden Globe Awards as the first openly trans actress to win in a film category. Her nomination for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy) is one of 10 the Spanish-language musical crime thriller received, marking it as the most-nominated film in its category’s history.
Emilia Pérez tells the story of a feared cartel boss who fakes her death to undergo gender-affirming surgery, re-entering her family’s lives with a new identity. Gascón’s portrayal has already earned her significant accolades, including Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival and the European Film Awards earlier this year.
Despite critical debates over the film’s portrayal of gender-affirming surgery, Emilia Pérez has dominated the awards circuit, celebrating its groundbreaking representation of LGBTQ+ narratives. Directed by Jacques Audiard, the film also stars Selena Gomez and Zoë Saldaña, both of whom are nominated for supporting roles.
As the Golden Globes approach, Gascón’s nomination is being hailed as a milestone for trans visibility in cinema. The ceremony, set for 5 January, could mark another step forward for LGBTQ+ representation in mainstream film awards.