Selena Gomez stars in Emilia Perez and dominates Golden Globes 2025 nominations

The Hollywood Reporter
The Hollywood Reporter's Annual Women In Entertainment Gala Presented By Lifetime - Arrivals - Source: Getty

In a story that mixes drama, music, and identity, Emilia Pérez, the new film starring Selena Gomez dominates the scene of Golden Globes 2025. With ten nominations, the film breaks barriers and redefines what we expect from Hollywood narratives.

Drug cartel? Check. A musical thriller? Double check. Add to the mix a world-famous pop star and we have a trifecta!

Selena Gomez, who has already shone in music and television, now takes on a role that challenges expectations. The film addresses themes of gender identity and personal reinvention, winning over critics and a global audience eager for stories that break with convention.

From Disney to critical acclaim: Selena Gomez's metamorphosis

Selena Gomez is known for her capacity to reinvent herself. After winning fans in music and TV, she takes on a complex role that challenges her limits as an artist. Now, Emilia Pérez has everything to become one of the most impactful moments of her career.

Selena's character is full of nuances, demanding from her a depth that captivates both the audience and critics. The Golden Globe nominations for Emilia Pérez and Only Murders in the Building came to consolidate her position as one of Hollywood's most dynamic figures.

Acclaimed and celebrated: Reactions to Selena Gomez's Nominations

Selena Gomez's reaction to her Golden Globe nominations for both Emilia Pérez and Only Murders in the Building was one of gratitude.

She said:

“I don’t even know what to write. I’m so proud of @zoesaldana and I am so grateful and honored @goldenglobes” — she wrote as the caption of a reaction video in one of her stories her account on Instagram.

Her nominations as proof of her perseverance and talent, celebrating her ability to shine across different entertainment genres.

An opera of the unexpected: what makes Emilia Pérez memorable

Thriller, musical, drama—Emilia Pérez is a work that does not conform to labels. The story of a cartel leader who fakes his death and undergoes a gender transition is told with a mix of tension and empathy—but not without welcome moments of comic relief.

The director, whose bold vision is palpable in every scene, transforms music into more than just a soundtrack; it becomes an essential part of the narrative.

The diverse cast, including Zoe Saldaña and Karla Sofía Gascón—the first trans woman to be awarded as Best Actress in the Cannes Film Festival—further elevates the film's emotional impact, adding layers to its already powerful message.

Golden Globes: Selena at the center of attention

The Golden Globe 2025 nominations highlight Selena Gomez as one of the most versatile artists today. Her performance in Emilia Pérez earned her a nomination for Best Supporting Actress, while her work in Only Murders in the Building continues to be celebrated.

Selena is paving a path that expands creative possibilities and solidifies her cultural and artistic impact.

When inclusion meets authenticity: The impact of Emilia Pérez

Emilia Pérez is a landmark for representation in cinema. By bringing gender identity issues to the center of the story, the film offers a rare perspective, further strengthened by Karla Sofía Gascón's authentic performance.

For the LGBTQIA+ community, however, the impact goes beyond the screen. The film reflects experiences that rarely find space in Hollywood, at the same time it celebrates plural narratives with depth and respect.

Crossing paths: How Emilia Pérez dialogues with other gender transition stories

Emilia Pérez's journey echoes other narratives that have explored gender transitions—but it brings something unique to the fold. In The Umbrella Academy, we saw Elliot Page bring his personal experience to the character Viktor Hargreeves, in a representation widely praised for its naturalness.

In The Danish Girl, however, Eddie Redmayne faced criticism for a cis man playing a trans woman, reigniting the debate about the importance of casting trans actors for these roles.

What differentiates Emilia Pérez is the authenticity that Karla Sofía Gascón brings to the screen, whose presence adds an emotional weight that can only be achieved with real-life experience—something Hollywood is beginning to value more deeply.

This step is an indication of the future: stories told with honesty, by people who understand their complexities.

A legacy being written now

Emilia Pérez marks a turning point for Selena Gomez and for Hollywood. The film challenges conventions, celebrates authenticity, and opens doors for more bold and inclusive stories.

In a scenario that demands renewal, Selena is helping to shape the future of the film industry, proving that cinema can—and should—be a place where brave stories meet the truth. As Emilia Pérez shows us, nothing is more transformative than a film that reflects the world as it is–and as it can be.

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Edited by Zainab Shaikh