Karla Sofia Gascon becomes first out trans actress nominated for an Oscar

“Emilia Perez” star Karla Sofia Gascon made Academy Awards history Thursday by becoming the first openly transgender actress to be nominated for an Oscar.

“Emilia Perez” racked up 13 nominations total, including for best picture, best supporting actress and best director. Gascon will compete in her category with nominees like Demi Moore (“The Substance”) and Cynthia Erivo (“Wicked”) in the best actress category.

The Academy Awards have had some transgender nominees in recent years in nonacting categories. In 2018, Daniela Vega became the first openly transgender person to present at the Oscars. Elliot Page, who came out as transgender in 2020, was nominated for best actress in 2008.

In “Emilia Perez,” Gascon plays Manitas Del Monte, a brutal Mexican cartel boss who hires a lawyer (Zoe Saldana) to help him transition into a woman (with the name Emilia Perez) and assume a new life.

At the Cannes Film Festival, the best actress award was shared by Gascon, Saldana, Selena Gomez and Adriana Paz for their performances in the film. Gascon also won best actress at the European Film Awards.

Gascon was nominated for her lead performance in a musical or comedy at the Golden Globes this month, though the Spanish actress lost to Demi Moore for “The Substance.” Still, Gascon gave a speech after “Emilia Perez” won for best picture, musical or comedy, calling for trans people to stand up to bigotry. “You can put us in jail, you can beat us up, but you can never take away our soul, our resistance, our identity,” she said. “I want to say to you, ‘Raise your voice’ … and say, ‘I am who I am. Not who you want.'”

Gascon’s career largely blossomed in Mexican telenovelas. She published her memoir, “Karsia: An Extraordinary Story,” in 2018 under her birth name, Carlos Gascon, which served as something of an announcement of her female identity. She said she was worried at the time that her transition would lead to fewer acting roles.

She has certainly found success with “Emilia Perez,” a film that has been praised by reviewers for its big stylistic swings and nigh-operatic drama. In a review for The Washington Post, Ty Burr called it “dazzling” and “one of the damnedest things you’ll ever see.” But the movie has also attracted criticism for its depiction of Mexican culture (its director, Jacques Audiard, is French, and it was shot in France) and trans experiences. The LGBTQ advocacy group Glaad said the movie is “a step backward for trans representation,” arguing the portrayals of trans people are inauthentic and potentially dangerous.

Gascon told Vanity Fair ahead of the Oscar nominations that she’s well aware of the criticism, but she’s hoping to spread a more important message.

“I think I’ve done my job when it comes to acting, and the awards and nominations, that’s a plus,” Gascon said. “I put my best work forward. But I’ve made history in cinema with my work – my message to the world is much bigger.”

She added, “If you don’t like it, go and make your own movie.”