The award for Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival is a breakthrough in Selena Gomez’s acting career.
Selena Gomez, Zoe Saldaña, Édgar Ramírez, and Karla Sofía Gascón were all named for the Best Actress award at the 77th Cannes Film Festival. The film that led them to victory was “Emilia Pérez,” directed by the French filmmaker Jacques Audiard.
Due to scheduling conflicts, Gomez was not present to accept the award. Through her social media, she expressed her excitement: “I’m extremely thrilled! Thank you to the Cannes Film Festival and the entire jury. Thank you for awarding me this prize.”
According to the Financial Times, Gomez made a concerted effort for a role that was nearly entirely in Spanish dialogue. Therefore, the award bestowed upon her is well-deserved.
The most remarkable role in her career
Emilia Pérez is a dramatic work revolving around the complex themes of love, fame, and betrayal. The film follows the escape journey of the drug lord Manitas del Monte (Karla Sofía Gascón), who hires the lawyer Rita Moro Castro (Zoe Saldaña) to arrange this getaway to avoid charges. To erase all evidence, Manitas decides to undergo gender reassignment and start a new life.
Selena Gomez plays the role of Jessi Del Monte, the wife of the criminal and mother of two children. The role demands her to portray deep psychological depth, emotions, and depict a tough exterior alongside a vulnerable inner self.
The Hollywood Reporter praised the film for bringing “a fresh, vibrant, and impactful experience,” acknowledging Gomez’s solid performance despite the less-than-perfect Spanish dialogue delivery.
In an interview with AP, Gomez reflected on her first acting experience in a different language: “I am honored to be part of the film but not entirely satisfied with my performance in Spanish. However, overall, I hope it doesn’t hinder my performance. This is a big challenge for me.”
For Gomez, Emilia Pérez marks a departure from her previous projects. She mentioned dedicating much of her life to breaking molds and proving her capabilities. Given the opportunity by director Jacques, she immediately seized it, and her efforts have been widely recognized.
After receiving a 10-minute standing ovation at Cannes, Emilia Pérez quickly gained impressive ratings with 88% positive reviews from 25 critics on Rotten Tomatoes. The Times called the film “a captivating musical drama for our times,” while Vulture wrote, “Selena brings the necessary ambiguity to the character.”
Some experts consider this to be Gomez’s most outstanding film role. Writer Ali Benzekri commented in an article on Awardswatch: “Selena delivers a standout performance, and ‘El Camino,’ the film’s soundtrack performed by her, serves as a moment for her to reflect on her own character. As Jessi, Selena has to navigate through pain, ready to embrace new beginnings with Gustavo (Édgar Ramírez).”
“El Camino” is becoming viral on social media and is considered a strong contender for the Best Original Song award at the 2025 Oscars.
Currently, Gomez feels relieved that the audience is focusing on her acting rather than delving into her personal life. “I’d rather be criticized for doing a bad job than have people pry into my personal life. I feel relieved and proud that Emilia Pérez has helped me prove my artistic passion,” the actress expressed to Reuters.
Should focus on acting
Beginning as an actress but later deciding to pursue singing, Selena Gomez has sparked controversy for her subpar live singing and overreliance on studio techniques. Even when not criticized for her singing, she often makes headlines for her personal life, relationships, and health issues.
In January, Gomez announced a hiatus from singing to focus on acting and resting. The singer of “Lose You to Love Me” stated: “I feel like I’ll probably just release one more album. As I get older, I’m enjoying more stability. Singing exhausts me. I don’t think I’m the best singer. I’m just someone who loves making music.”
According to ABC News, Gomez’s decision has been supported by audiences. Regarding her acting career, before “Emilia Pérez,” she did not have many breakthrough films but also did not face as much criticism as she did with her singing.
Some readers on the Quora forum agree that Gomez’s acting career, including films like “Spring Breakers,” “The Fundamentals of Caring,” “A Rainy Day in New York,” as well as the Netflix series “13 Reasons Why,” showcases her talent in acting.
In 2021, the television series “Only Murders in the Building” premiered, causing a positive impact on viewers. Gomez played the lead role and received enthusiastic love from television audiences. Her portrayal of the character Mabel Mora, a strong and independent personality, showcased her improved acting skills.
According to Page Six, the show became Hulu’s most-watched comedy series premiere in history, motivating the producers to continue with a second season.
Screenrant noted that Gomez’s greatest strength lies in her versatility in acting. Whether in a leading role or a guest appearance, Gomez strives to improve the quality of her performance. If she continues on this path, she is expected to have many more successful projects.
