Selena Gomez Shares Tearful Moment of Landing “Emilia Pérez” Role: ‘I’m So Gonna Cry’
Selena Gomez is no stranger to emotional moments, but her reaction to landing a role in the upcoming movie “Emilia Pérez” might be one of her most heartfelt yet.
On Monday, August 19, the 32-year-old singer and actress shared an intimate video on Instagram capturing the exact moment she learned she had been cast as Jessi Del Monte in “Emilia Pérez.” In the clip, Gomez, dressed casually in a white cropped shirt and nude trousers, can be seen sitting on a sofa, visibly overwhelmed with emotion.
“I can’t believe I got the movie! I’m so gonna cry right now, I don’t want to cry,” Gomez says, holding her hands to her face in shock. Despite her best efforts to hold back tears, the moment clearly meant the world to her. “I don’t want to cry!” she repeats, even as her friend Gabby, who was filming the moment, gently encourages her to let it out.
“This is gonna be so cool, Gabby!” Gomez adds, the excitement in her voice unmistakable.
Gomez shared the emotional video as part of a carousel of photos on her Instagram. “When I found out I got the part for @emiliaperezfilm and the sessions in between loll,” she captioned the post.
Among the photos was a touching image of Gomez embracing her co-star Karla Sofía Gascón, who plays the film’s titular character, Emilia Pérez. Other snapshots included Gomez posing among clothes racks, tagging fashion house Saint Laurent, and a blonde, bloodied Gomez taking a mirror selfie, showcasing the physical transformation for her role. Another photo featured Gomez pouting in a mirror selfie, this time with her natural brunette locks and wearing a furry jacket.
This post comes after Gomez’s emotional reaction at the Cannes Film Festival on May 18, where “Emilia Pérez” received a minutes-long standing ovation, according to reports from Variety and Deadline.
“Emilia Pérez” is a unique film that divides its narrative into four acts and includes original songs performed by the cast. In the movie, Gomez portrays the wife of the feared drug cartel leader Manitas, played by Gascón. The plot thickens as Manitas seeks the help of lawyer Rita, portrayed by Zoe Saldaña, to secretly undergo a sex change operation as he approaches retirement from his criminal empire.
In January, Gomez discussed her role in “Emilia Pérez” on the SmartLess podcast, describing it as “one of the most challenging things” she has ever done. She recounted how she drew from her own life experiences to channel the emotions required for the role. “There’s this scene where I’m being left – I’m not giving anything away – and I remember I channeled the moment when I had to go to rehab for the first time and leaving … I just felt like it was just getting that out when I remembered that first moment and being terrified so it felt really cathartic,” Gomez shared.
“I feel like I have these moments in my life that have happened and I’m able to use that and it actually feels great, it feels like after a good cry or something, it’s a good feeling,” she continued.
Fans won’t have to wait long to see Gomez’s performance, as “Emilia Pérez” will be available to stream on Netflix starting November 13.
