Emilia Pérez Dominates Golden Globes 2025 with Historic Wins and Powerful Messages
The 82nd Golden Globe Awards cemented Jacques Audiard’sEmilia Pérez as the frontrunner of the 2025 awards season. The musical cartel crime drama swept the night, taking home four major awards:
Best Motion Picture: Musical or Comedy
Best Supporting Actress in a Musical or Comedy for Zoe Saldaña
Best Original Song for “El Mal”
Best Foreign Language Film
These accolades showcase the film’s bold storytelling and its undeniable impact on both cinema and culture.
A Momentous Win for Karla Sofía Gascón
The night’s emotional highlight came when the entire cast of Emilia Pérez, including Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez, and star Karla Sofía Gascón, gathered on stage to accept the award for Best Motion Picture: Musical or Comedy. Gascón, the first openly trans performer to be nominated for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy, delivered a poignant and empowering speech that resonated deeply with the audience.
Wearing Buddhist-inspired colors, Gascón used her platform to deliver a message of resilience and hope: "The light always wins over darkness. You can put us in jail, you can beat us up, but you can never take away our soul, our resistance, or our identity."
She urged others to embrace their authentic selves, declaring: "I am who I am, not who you want me to be."
Zoe Saldaña’s Acknowledgment of Gascón’s Brilliance
Earlier in the evening, Zoe Saldaña earned her first Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical or Comedy, a win she dedicated in part to Gascón.
"I’m also sharing [this award] with you, Karla," Saldaña said during her acceptance speech. "No one other than you could have played Emilia Pérez."
Her heartfelt tribute underscores the transformative power of Gascón’s performance, which has become the heart of the film and captured the attention of critics and audiences alike.
Karla Sofía Gascón: Fighting for Visibility and Representation
In a recent interview with Harper’s Bazaar, Gascón reflected on her groundbreaking role as Emilia Pérez and the responsibility that comes with her newfound global visibility.
"There’s one thing I hope for this world, and that is for us to wake up one day and be seen as just people with our virtues and faults," she said. Gascón expressed her desire for greater understanding and acceptance, emphasizing that labels—whether trans, LGBTQ+, or otherwise—do not define intelligence, virtue, or humanity.
Her advocacy for trans rights and representation resonates deeply, especially in a film that challenges conventions and highlights issues of identity, activism, and resilience.
A Film Redefining Cinema and Culture
Emilia Pérez is more than just an awards-season darling; it’s a cultural milestone. By blending the genres of musical, comedy, and crime drama, Audiard has crafted a story that is as daring as it is thought-provoking.
With its themes of identity, resistance, and self-expression, the film has become a symbol of progress in the industry, amplifying voices that have long been marginalized.
As Emilia Pérez continues its triumphant journey through awards season, it leaves a legacy of artistic excellence and cultural impact, ensuring its place as one of the most significant films of the decade.
