NEW YORK − Madonna is a big fan of “Emilia Pérez.”

Recently, the pop superstar attended the New York premiere of the bold musical film (now available on Netflix), which tells the story of a Mexican drug lord (Karla Sofía Gascón) who undergoes gender affirmation surgery.

After watching it a second time, Gascón fondly recalls, “She hugged me and just cried and cried.” They were in a dimly lit restaurant that reminded her of Dracula’s lair. “I said, ‘Madonna, don’t worry! It’s just a movie! Be happy!’ ”

“Emilia Pérez” often leaves viewers in tears, and since its debut at the Cannes Film Festival in May, it’s been a strong contender for awards, winning a shared best actress prize for its four leads (Gascón, Zoe Saldana, Selena Gomez, and Adriana Paz). Gascón is now widely considered a frontrunner for an Oscar nomination as the first trans woman for best actress, a possibility she approaches with humility.

“It would be amazing and a true source of pride,” Gascón, who is Spanish and uses a translator, expresses. “But honestly, if it doesn’t happen, it’s not the end of the world. The greatest reward for me has been the connection I feel with the audience. The Latino community has really rallied behind me, and I hope to inspire my fellow actors coming up.”

Karla Sofía Gascón worried she’d have to stop acting after her transition

In this Spanish-language drama, Gascón, 52, plays the formidable kingpin Manitas, who fakes her death and embraces the name Emilia Pérez after transitioning. She felt drawn to the film’s themes of redemption, as Emilia tries to make amends for her violent history by forming a charity for victims of cartel violence. Writer/director Jacques Audiard originally planned to cast both a man and a woman in the role, but Gascón insisted on portraying both incarnations.

“I don’t want anyone else taking my role!” she humorously states. “But more significantly, I’m an actress, and I want to tackle roles that challenge me and are different from my own experiences.”

According to Audiard, hiring a trans woman was “crucial” for this project: “Karla Sofía was my guide,” he shares. “Whenever I had questions, I reached out to her. If she had any concerns, she voiced them, and I made changes accordingly. The depth and intensity of her performance stem from her life experiences.” Gascón transitioned at the age of 46, which has led Audiard to reflect on the challenges she might have faced prior. “Her bravery is palpable in every performance.”

Gascón was born and grew up in Madrid, Spain, at the end of Francisco Franco’s dictatorship. From the age of 4, she realized she identified as a girl. However, in a repressive environment, “there’s no opportunity to express that,” she explains. “You always know who you are, but your body doesn’t align, and you have to conform.”

In 2009, she relocated to Mexico and achieved notable success in telenovelas like “Wild Heart.” In her personal life, she was always upfront with her partners about her identity. (“All the women who were with me understood my truth,” she asserts. “I never misled anyone.”) Nevertheless, she struggled for many years with the idea of coming out publicly, fearing it would jeopardize her acting career.

“I was on the brink of suicide,” Gascón admits. “I feared I would have to abandon the work I love and end up destitute.”

In 2018, Gascón made the decision to proceed with her transition, feeling assured she could access the mental and medical support necessary for her journey. Throughout this time, her wife and teenage daughter remained supportive, despite intense scrutiny from Mexican and Spanish news outlets, which still misgender and use her previous name today.

“I had to face many people both in my career and personal life,” Gascón recalls. “For some reason, certain individuals take pleasure in ruining others’ lives. Even now, I receive harsh messages. In France, there was a significant backlash against me when I won the (Cannes) award. Some believe they can break those they see as vulnerable, but they’ve met their match with me. I’m a warrior.”

The star of ‘Emilia Pérez’ wants you to see she’s ‘like everyone else’

Even amidst glowing reviews for her acting, Gascón has faced instances of ignorance while promoting her Oscar candidacy.

“Recently, a woman approached me and complimented my work,” Gascón shares. “She then asked, ‘If you get nominated, will it be for best actress or best actor?’ I replied, ‘Ma’am, I’m an actress! Whether I play a monster or an elderly dog, my nomination would still be as an actress!’ ”

Looking ahead, Gascón hopes to explore more roles in comedies and action movies—perhaps portraying “a James Bond villain bent on world destruction,” she says with a playful tone. She cherishes the genuine camaraderie with co-stars like Gomez, who has developed a close bond with her daughter in recent months. (“Sometimes they even swap shoes because they wear the same size!”)

The actress is also passionate about raising awareness about transgender issues.

“I hope people can relate to who I am and my journey, and see that it’s completely normal,” Gascón expresses. “I wish families would embrace their sons and daughters as they are, showing them love and asking, ‘Why not?’ Regardless of whether someone is a bus driver, teacher, or astronaut, their gender or sexuality shouldn’t matter as long as they excel in their roles.

“Ultimately,” she continues, “my aim is to plant the idea that I’m just like anyone else. I simply want to live my life peacefully—everyone should have the right to be themselves.”