Karla Sofía Gascón has officially made Oscar history. On Thursday morning, she became the first openly trans person to be nominated in an acting category.
Gascón is recognized in the Best Actress category for her leading role in Jacques Audiard’s Netflix musical film, Emilie Pérezand this Academy recognition follows recent Golden Globe, SAG and BAFTA nominations for Gascón’s performance.
In Émilie Pérez, Gascón plays a cartel leader who turns to Mexico City lawyer Rita (Zoë Saldaña) to help her live as herself. Selena Gomez plays Jessi, Emilia’s wife, and Adriana Paz plays Epifanía, Emilia’s girlfriend. Gascón first made awards history with this role at Cannes when all four actresses shared the Best Actress award, with Gascón being the first openly trans actress to win the award.
In October, Gascón discussed his feelings regarding representation with Deadline, saying, “I represent, obviously, the minority that I represent. But I think I represent a lot of people in this world who want or need to be free. I’m talking about my colleagues, other actors who are coming up, who started from the bottom and who have been working for a long time and who have felt this rejection and who continue to work, learn and grow. I think that may be one of the very important groups of people that I represent. And I hope I represent hope for my colleagues.
Karla Sofia Gascón in “Emilia Pérez”
Netflix
While Gascón will be the first trans person to be nominated for an Oscar in the acting category this year, Elliott Page was nominated for Juno in 2008 before coming out as trans, and the first openly trans person to be nominated for an Oscar was composer Angela Morley, for The Little Prince in 1975, then again for The slipper and the rose: Cinderella’s story in 1978.
It would take another 40 years for another openly trans person to be nominated. British musician Anohni was nominated in the Best Original Song category for the documentary’s “Manta Ray” Extinction of races in 2016. Then, in 2018, Yance Ford, who directed the documentary Strong Islandbecame the first trans director to be nominated. That same year, A fantastic woman, starring Chilean trans actress Daniela Vega, won the best foreign language film category.
The 97th The Oscars will take place in Los Angeles on March 2sd.
