Karla Sofía Gascón becomes first publicly trans star to receive Best Actress Oscar nomination

Karla Sofía Gascón made history today as she became the first publicly trans actress to receive a Best Actress Oscar nomination.

The 52-year-old has previously been nominated for a BAFTA for her starring role in the critically-acclaimed Netflix film.

Emilia Pérez meanwhile breaks the record for the most Oscar nominations in history with 13.

In the film, Karla plays a drug lord named Juan who gives up a life of crime after transitioning gender and becoming Emilia. It co-stars Zoe Saldana, Selena Gomez and Adriana Paz.

Zoe, meanwhile, has been nominated for Best Supporting Actress.

“We shouldn’t be treated differently because of our tastes, our sexual orientation”

Speaking in an interview with Attitude last month, Karla said: “We shouldn’t be treated differently because of our tastes, our sexual orientation. As long as we’re not harming others, there’s no reason for treating anyone differently. I think the work the film does is very important in that sense, because it allows audiences to see these people respected on-screen. And to see their actions through what they’re doing; to see everyone reflected in real life. 

“One of the other things in the film that is there is the lesbian relationship between Emilia and Epifanía. No one really talks about it, but it’s there. It’s great that people don’t talk about it. They’ve normalised it! They accept it. And maybe there are other things people are talking about or thinking about.”

Key Oscar nominations

Best Picture

Anora
The Brutalist
A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Dune: Part Two
Emilia Pérez
I’m Still Here
Nickel Boys
The Substance
Wicked

Actor in a Leading Role

Adrien Brody, The Brutalist
Timothée Chalamet, A Complete Unknown
Colman Domingo, Sing Sing
Ralph Fiennes, Conclave
Sebastian Stan, The Apprentice

Actress in a Leading Role

Cynthia Erivo, Wicked
Karla Sofía Gascón, Emilia Pérez
Mikey Madison, Anora
Demi Moore, The Substance
Fernanda Torres, I’m Still Here

Actor in a Supporting Role

Yura Borisov, Anora
Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain
Edward Norton, A Complete Unknown
Guy Pearce, The Brutalist
Jeremy Strong, The Apprentice

Actress in a Supporting Role

Monica Barbaro, A Complete Unknown
Ariana Grande, Wicked
Felicity Jones, The Brutalist
Isabella Rossellini, Conclave
Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Emilia Pérez
Nickel Boys
Sing Sing

Writing (Original Screenplay)

Anora
The Brutalist
A Real Pain
September 5
The Substance