“Emilia Pérez” Star Karla Sofía Gascón Makes Oscar History as First Openly Trans Actress to Be Nominated

Karla Sofía Gascón just made history ahead of the 2025 Oscars.

On Thursday, Jan. 23, the Emilia Pérez star became the first openly trans acting nominee at the awards show, in the category of Best Actress.

The 52-year-old Spanish actress was recognized alongside Cynthia Erivo (Wicked), Mikey Madison (Anora), Demi Moore (The Substance) and Fernanda Torres (I'm Still Here).

Emilia Pérez is nominated for several awards, including Best Picture, Best Director (Jacques Audiard), Best Supporting Actress (Zoe Saldaña), Best Adapted Screenplay and Best International Feature.

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Gascón has been a staple on award-show nominee lists this season. Ahead of her Academy Award nod, she was also the first out transgender woman to be nominated in a film category at the 2025 Golden Globe Awards.

Aside from winning best actress at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival last May alongside costars Saldaña, Selena Gomez and Adriana Paz, Gascón is also up for two trophies at the upcoming Critics Choice Awards on Feb. 7, including best actress, and leading actress at the 2025 BAFTA Awards on Feb. 16, among other accolades.

Emilia Pérez follows a high-powered lawyer named Rita (Golden Globe winner and fellow Oscar nominee Saldaña, 46), who is hired by a Mexican cartel leader (Gascón) to help them fake their death and undergo gender-affirming procedures so that they can transition into life as a woman. The musical also stars Gomez, 32, Paz, 45, and Édgar Ramírez.

Now streaming on Netflix, Emilia Pérez has been applauded for bending genre limits. “You have an action movie that’s not an action movie, a drama that’s not a drama, a comedy that’s not a comedy,” Gascón told Tudum in November 2024. “It is such a great gift, and I’m so proud to be part of it.”

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Emilia Pérez was previously named best motion picture: comedy or musical at the Golden Globes on Jan. 5, beating out its competitors Anora, Challengers, A Real Pain, The Substance and Wicked.

Taking the stage at the Beverly Hilton Hotel to accept the honor, French writer and director Audiard, 72, handed the microphone to Gascón, who offered inspiring remarks for members of marginalized communities.

"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, or our resistance, or our dignity."

"Raise your voice," Gascón continued. "I am who I am; know who you [are]."

Conan O'Brien is set to host the Oscars ceremony, which will air live from the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 2, at 7 p.m. ET on ABC and Hulu.

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