Video: One on One with Selena Gomez and Zoe Saldaña
There are very few people as famous as Selena Gomez. The singer-actress currently boasts more than 423 million followers on Instagram – making her one of the most-followed people on the planet. But, in her new role alongside Zoe Saldaña and Karla Sofía Gascón in Emilia Pérez, the 32-year-old is almost unrecognisable.
"All of a sudden, Jacques [Audiard] would say 'action' and this lioness would just come out in the form of Jessie, which I always knew you had in you, but it was just wonderful to see it up close," Saldaña says to her co-star, when they sat down to discuss their new film for the latest episode of One on One with Harper's Bazaar.
Out now on Netflix, Emilia Pérez defies genre and expectation in a moving story that follows the resourceful lawyer Rita (Saldaña), who helps the titular cartel leader (Gascón) to flee their criminal past in order to fulfil a dream of transitioning into living as a woman. Set against the vibrancy of Mexico City (but actually, as Gomez and Saldaña discuss in our video, filmed in Paris), the film explores tough themes while entertaining audiences with a series of experimental musical numbers, all helmed by the critically-acclaimed director, Jacques Audiard.
"I deeply appreciated how free we got to be [during filming]... it was a whole new thing for me as an actor," Gomez describes, before sharing the biggest lesson she learned from her co-stars on set: "There's nothing quite as pure as when two women are raising each other up and have a mission."
She continued: "Being around strong women and seeing how each of you navigated the characters and embodied them was truly inspiring. What I really learned is that I belong." Saldaña nodded along in agreement, adding: "We are better, we are stronger and we are unbreakable when we stand together... Coming from a place of love and absolute genuine admiration for a woman is a much stronger place and a better emotion in my body than operating out of my shadow, ego or insecurity."
So, given that the film involved being immersed in some heavy material, how did the cast relax and unwind away from the set? "Lots of dinners, we went to the Beyoncé concert," Saldaña says with a smile. "That was so fun," Gomez adds, recalling memories of eating pizza, spending time with their respective families, and dancing in restaurants.
On what they hope audiences take away from Emilia Pérez, Saldaña says that she wants them to know that "women have the right to search for their own, authentic freedom however it comes". As for Gomez, she says, "Life as a woman is very complex, however, there is an opportunity for you to fight for your freedom – whether that's from a toxic relationship or wanting to find your identity and claiming it. It's very nuanced.
"I hope that they understand that this is a message of powerful women, but also, it's OK to have [life] look a little messy."
Emilia Pérez is available now on Netflix. Watch our full interview with Zoe Saldaña and Selena Gomez, above.
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