“Emilia Pérez” emerged as the standout winner at Sunday’s Golden Globe Awards, securing four trophies, including Best Comedy or Musical. The film’s star, Karla Sofía Gascón, delivered a heartfelt acceptance speech after winning the evening’s top honor.
Gascón, a trans actress, took to the stage in tears, wearing Buddhist colors to convey a powerful message. “The light always wins over darkness,” she said. “You can maybe put us in jail. You can beat us up, but you never can take away our soul, our existence, our identity. Raise your voice for freedom. I am who I am, not who you want. Thank you so much.”
Directed by French filmmaker Jacques Audiard, “Emilia Pérez” is a unique Spanish-language movie musical. It tells the story of a Mexican drug lord, played by Gascón, who undergoes gender affirmation surgery. Selena Gomez co-stars as the drug lord’s disgruntled wife, while Zoe Saldaña portrays a high-powered lawyer who befriends the transformed kingpin.
The film also won awards for Best Non-English Language Film, Best Supporting Actress for Zoe Saldaña, and Best Original Song for “El Mal.”
For Gascón, 52, this marks a significant career milestone. Having transitioned in 2018 after years of acting in Mexican telenovelas, she has faced challenges both professionally and personally. In an interview with USA TODAY last year, Gascón revealed her initial fears about coming out as a transgender woman, worrying it might end her career.
“I was at the border of suicide,” Gascón said. “I always thought I was going to have to give up this work that I love and that I would end up on the streets.”
Despite these challenges, Gascón’s resilience has been unwavering. “There was a moment where I had to confront a lot of people in the industry and in my personal life. I don’t know why, but there are people who take joy in destroying other people’s lives,” she shared. “Even now, there are people who write horrible things to me. In France, there was a whole campaign against me when I received the Cannes award. But they found their match with me. I’m a warrior.”
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