Zoe Saldanya talks about the controversy over her “Emilia Perez” co-star, Cara Sofia Gascon. This backlash overshadowed the film’s historic Oscar perception. This includes Saldaña’s first Academy Award nomination for the best supporting actress.
In an interview for upcoming episodes of the Variety Awards Circuit Podcast, Saldanya expressed her sadness over the situation, highlighting that the film was created with inclusion and love intentions.
“I’m sad, and again, because it’s the feeling that has lived in my heart ever since it all happened,” says Saldanya. “I’m disappointed too. I can’t speak about other people’s actions. All I can prove is my experience and I don’t believe we will be here in a million years. did.”
Directed by Jacques Audiard, the Spanish-language music crime drama has received 13 Oscar nominations and has become the most nominated non-English film in Academy Award history. However, the resurrection of Gascón’s past statements on Twitter/X complicates the film’s awards campaign, with many working on ways to separate film achievements from the controversy.
Starring Gascon, Selena Gomez, Adriana Pas and Edgar Ramirez, Saldanya did not directly comment on whether she spoke to Gascon since the outbreak of controversy.
“I feel like I’m talking enough about it,” she said, adding that she is still handling the situation. “It’s not just something we have to understand right away.”
In an interview with CNNEspañol, Gascón said Saldaña and Gomez “support 200%.” When asked about this, Saldanya, who took a long blink, did not confirm the claim. Instead, she referenced back to a statement she made in London, where she condemned prejudice and racism.
“I don’t support the negative rhetoric of racism and prejudice against groups of people,” she repeated. “That’s what I want to support.”
Despite the controversy, Saldanya expects the film’s legacy to endure and the audience will recognize the work of everyone involved.
“I will always be a hopeful person,” she says. “I have not been able to make negative judgments about people from any community group. While I am that person, I can still stand by a series of jobs where I can be proud. Masu.”
As Saldaña advances her career, she focuses on the broader influence of “Emilia Pérez” and the importance of bold storytelling.
“I think it’s important for the filmmakers community to continue to believe in what we have in mind,” she said. “I want to be part of telling stories that are constantly growing as artists and sometimes provocative, but still nurture the conversations that are needed.”
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Saldanya continues to promote “Emilia Perez” throughout the rest of the awards season, navigating the mixed emotions surrounding the film’s journey. Regardless of the challenge, she remains dedicated to her work, her community, and to celebrations of diverse storytelling.
The actress also spoke about her support from the Hollywood community. As reported by Diversity, voters from multiple academies have expressed sympathy that Saldaña had to bear the brunt of the controversy as communication between Netflix and Gascón’s PR team stopped.
“We’ve come together as a team, so I still allow them to experience that joy,” she recalls. “But we are also individuals who are responsible for everything we say and everything we do.”
She also acknowledged the difficulties of the situation and the personal growth that could come from it.
“You might believe it’s a statement that came up with my team, but at the end of the day, when I can’t speak on behalf of others, I’ll be myself and myself You can only talk about what you witness,” she said. “And that needs to be sufficient for now. I’m still processing it. I certainly think this is a learning experience. Everything in life is a learning experience for all of us. And it’s unpleasant. The point of events is for evolution, so I hope we continue to move in the right direction.”
The person Gascon drew on social media was not the person she met on set, Saldaña pointed out. However, she added, “I can’t prove what I do in my personal time with their private handle.”
The full episode will be released on Thursday.
