‘I had to change my voice and go back in time’: How the Emilia Perez star prepared for her unique dual role

There is no doubt that Emilia Perez was one of the stars of the 77th Cannes Film Festival. Jacques Audiard’s film – his 10th – won the Jury Prize and Best Actress for all actors, Zoe Saldana, Selena Gomez, Adriana Pass and Carla Sofia Gascon. The latter is the great discovery of this unique musical comedy. He plays the lead role and at the age of 52 starts a new chapter in his life as an actor.

Emilia Perez opens up about Rita (Zoe Saldana), a brilliant lawyer at the mercy of a firm that whitewashes criminals. Her life is turned upside down when the top cartel leader Manitas offers her an impossible mission: to eliminate him so she can finally become the woman she always wanted to be. In this great story, the characters meet in impressive scenes to the rhythm of the music composed and written by the singers Camille and Clement Ducol.

When he first discovered the script, Carla Sophia Gascon I don’t believe it. “It’s a completely crazy movie– he said after reading to himself. “When I read it for the second time, I wonder how to learn all the songs for next week’s casting“, recalls the Spanish actor for AlloCiné, on the second day of the Cannes presentation.

I had to change my voice, change my movements, go back to the past.

“In total, I worked on Emilia Perez for more than two yearshe continues. I spent a year with vocal coaches and physical trainers. It was a huge job, but also an extraordinary journey..” When asked if this is his biggest challenge in his acting career, Carla Sophia Gascon answers directly: “Yes, but not for the scale of the movie. The most difficult thing was to play two roles in one.“

The film’s star also plays a cartel leader before his transition. “I had to change my voice, movements, return to the past”, reveals Carla Sofia Gascon, who started the transition herself in 2018. Emilia Perez After this stage, it is his first film role. “Before Jacques Audiard’s film, I acted in two Mexican TV series, including one for Netflix. she adds. This role is not only the most important part of my life, but of my entire career.”

Jacques Audiard, also the screenwriter of the film, did not want the actor to play the character before the transition. After several attempts, Carla Sofia Gascon managed to convince him. Thanks to the complexity of her protagonist, who escapes many stereotypes, Emilia Pérez signs an important new chapter in the representation of transidentity in cinema.

“A large number of trans characters are on the streets or connected to prostitution ringsCarla Sophia Gascon regrets. I think this aspect can be changed.” Words that echo his powerful speech he gave when accepting his award, which he dedicated to “All the trans people who suffer every day“.

Commentary collected by Thomas Desroches, Cannes, May 2024.

Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Perez is currently in theaters.