TORONTO – Selena Gomez made a confident entrance on the red carpet and snapped selfies at the Toronto International Film Festival while the sounds of excited fans filled the air blocks from the Princess of Wales Theatre. However, during the premiere of her upcoming Netflix film “Emilia Pérez,” she admitted to feeling “so nervous” about taking on her first role where she speaks Spanish.

“I was able to create a character that resembles myself and reflects many experiences of Latinx communities in America,” Gomez shared at a Q&A session after the premiere for the popular musical crime drama. In the film, she plays the wife of a leader in a Mexican drug cartel who undergoes gender-confirming surgery to start a new chapter as Emilia. On the topic of her Spanish-speaking abilities, Gomez added humorously, “I can follow conversations, but please don’t ask me to respond!”

Gomez, alongside co-stars Zoe Saldana, Karla Sofia Gascon, and Adriana Paz, collectively earned the best actress award at the Cannes Film Festival in May. “Emilia Pérez” is set to hit theaters on November 1 and will be available for streaming on Netflix starting November 13, establishing itself as a promising contender for awards this season. The film incorporates imaginative song-and-dance sequences to enhance its emotional storyline, featuring Gascon as both the drug lord Manitas and Emilia, Saldana as her friend and attorney Rita, Gomez as Manitas’ wife Jessi, and Paz portraying Emilia’s romantic interest Epifania.

Saldana expressed that she initially “couldn’t grasp” the vision director Jacques Audiard had for the unconventional “Emilia.” She mentioned, “It felt like an opera; there was singing and dancing. I was puzzled about its direction.” Nevertheless, she added, “Jacques has a unique way of pushing me out of my comfort zone and helping me cultivate empathy for characters that are beyond my personal experience.”

Each character aspires for “a genuine life filled with love and freedom,” Saldana noted. “However, their stories compel me to discover compassion for them and their reality. These characters may appear beyond redemption at times, but that inspired me to embrace this role and participate in the project.”

Gascon relished the acclaim for her performance and the film overall, positioning herself as a frontrunner for the best actress award. If nominated, she will be the first openly transgender performer to receive such a distinction. An experienced actress in Mexican telenovelas, Gascon became emotional while discussing her role, stating, “This is the best work of my life,” as she paused to take photos with fans post-screening.

According to Gascon, playing Manitas was “more enjoyable” compared to Emilia, as the latter is closer to her real self. Regarding her voice for Manitas, she humorously quipped, “I aimed for a Sylvester Stallone vibe.” She also expressed that she considers her acting skills to be superior to her singing in the movie, laughing, “I’m not a vocalist and unlikely to win a Grammy. They cranked up the equalizer to make me sound good!”