Oscar 2025: Emilia Perez star Karla Sofía Gascón makes history as she becomes the first openly trans person to be nominated

Karla Sofía Gascón makes history

Karla Sofía Gascón has etched her name in history as the first openly trans actress to earn an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. Her groundbreaking performance in the Spanish-language musical Emilia Pérez not only captivated audiences but also paved the way for a deeper conversation about trans representation in cinema. The film, which follows a Mexican drug kingpin who undergoes gender-affirming surgery to start a new life as a social worker, has positioned Gascón as a global icon of resilience and artistry.

At 52, Gascón’s journey to this monumental achievement is as inspiring as it is groundbreaking. Born in Madrid, she moved to Mexico in 2009, where she gained fame in telenovelas like Hasta el fin del mundo and Llena de amor. With the support of her wife and teenage daughter, she began her transition in 2018, embracing her identity with courage and determination. Her casting in Emilia Pérez in 2022 marked a turning point, both for her career and for trans representation in mainstream cinema.

Emilia Pérez has been a standout during awards season, leading the 2025 Oscar nominations with 13 nods, including Best Picture, Best Director (Jacques Audiard), and Best Supporting Actress for Zoe Saldaña. The film’s music, featuring Saldaña’s fiery performance of El Mal and Selena Gomez’s self-love anthem Mi Camino, has also garnered critical acclaim.

Despite its success, the film has faced criticism for its portrayal of the Mexican drug war and its lack of Mexican representation among its leading cast and crew. Critics like Amelia Hansford have also raised concerns about the film’s trans representation, calling it "satirical" and "disingenuous." Nevertheless, Gascón’s performance has been widely praised for its emotional depth and authenticity.

Throughout the awards campaign, Gascón has used her platform to educate and inspire. Her powerful Golden Globe acceptance speech highlighted her message of resilience and self-identity. "The light always wins over darkness," she declared, wearing a striking orange-yellow gown symbolising Buddhist values. "Raise your voice and say, ‘I won, I am who I am, not who you want.’"

"All I can do is focus on planting the seed by doing my work," she says. "I just want to live my life without anybody bothering me – everyone deserves to be themselves."