Renowned director Jacques Audiard, known for his masterpiece “Emilia Pérez,” recently made a surprising revelation.
He confessed to not fully realizing Selena Gomez’s enormous fame in the United States when he cast her in his film.
Despite his large following on social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok, Audiard admitted his lack of familiarity with the digital landscape.
In an interview, Audiard shared his perspective on Selena Gomez’s casting, stating, “I completely didn’t know. I am not at all familiar with this social network, Instagram, TikTok generation. I don’t have access to all that. I knew her from Spring Breakers and the Woody Allen movie she played in, [A Rainy Day in New York]. I just wanted to work with her for that. And when I met her in New York one morning at a cafe, I knew instantly that I wanted to work with her.”
Despite Audiard’s initial lack of knowledge, Selena Gómez’s interpretation of the character in ‘Emilia Pérez’ left audiences and critics spellbound. The film, described as a “bracing and original police musical,” earned Gomez the prestigious Best Actress award at the 77th Cannes Film Festival. Her co-stars Zoe Saldana, Karla Sofía Gascón and Adriana Paz were also praised for her outstanding performances.
Greta Gerwig, president of the Cannes Film Festival jury, praised the cast for their exceptional chemistry and individual brilliance. She emphasized: “To separate them would be to undermine the magic of what they did together. Each one of them is a standout. They are transcendent.”
Reflecting on her audition experience, Selena Gomez revealed her initial uncertainty after not receiving a response from Audiard for a year. “Yes, we had an audition and then I didn’t hear anything. I acted crazy at the audition. He wanted me to perform one of the numbers and I just gave in and gave myself completely. I was like, well, at least I could walk away and say I did the best I could. “When he asked me to be a part of this, I was very nervous but also very excited,” Gomez said during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
Despite Audiard’s limited knowledge of her, Selena Gomez appreciated the director’s willingness to take a chance on her based solely on her performance. She emphasized the importance of the opportunity, stating, “Jacques, who didn’t really know anything about me, took a chance and believed in me just based on what he was capable of doing, and that was really special for me. I think this is really important and I choose projects based on the filmmaker, the content, the meaning, everything.”
In conclusion, the story behind Selena Gomez’s breakout role in ‘Emilia Pérez’ serves as a testament to both her talent and Jacques Audiard’s visionary direction. Despite initial uncertainties, her collaboration resulted in cinematic magic that captivated audiences around the world.
