She is the second Spanish actress, after Penélope Cruz, to compete for the Oscar for best actress, and yet she has received many congratulations (“From the president of the Government to the mayor of my hometown”) and also many insults: “There is a fight of people, retrograde or with little mental capacity, who are against freedom and respect, affection, love and a just and egalitarian society. I received the Oscar nomination amidst insults, threats of all kinds and humiliation. […]. At the moment I don’t care, I ask each one of those who are like this to prove to me in a reliable way that I am not a lady and an actress who does not deserve this recognition.” Gascón made this confession in a meeting of almost 40 minutes with the Spanish press via videoconference, since he is in Punta del Este (Uruguay) in the promotion of Emilia Perez, the narco-musical that became the favorite yesterday Thursday
In that meeting, which ended with the actress crying from the emotion of the moment, Gascón insisted on the pride she feels in her work in a film in which she plays two characters: first, Manitas, the brutal leader of a cartel. Mexican drug trafficker, and, later, Emilia Pérez, the woman to whom Manitas has transitioned. “I always hope that my nomination has nothing to do with my sexuality or my hair color, but rather with my performance. It is a historic work due to many factors,” but it has coincided with the arrival of Donald Trump, for the second time, to the White House. “I’m glad it coincided. Well, I would be happier if this man had not been there, although I am glad because it is going to be a shock,” he continued.
“I feel a little sorry because in the end the United States is a reference for all of us in the world. I understand the relevance of whether there is one president or another. It makes me sad that there are people like this in the world, like Bolsonaro or like all of these… A mix between village bosses and latest generation fascists, who are taking over institutions in many countries, selling hate. I don’t understand how we can continue like this in the world, constantly going backwards and making the same mistakes of the past,” he commented from Uruguay.
Regarding the Oscar, she has confessed that yes, she has come to win: “What happened yesterday is the culmination of everything. Whatever happens extra, I don’t care a little. Although I want to win, obviously, I’m not going to lie. My performance is something incredible, although some will say that I don’t have a grandmother [risas]. My success right now is because I am myself, because I don’t let myself be manipulated by anyone. I’m not going to feel happy if someone other than me wins, it’s ridiculous. “I’m happy for the others, but let them win it another year, when I’m not nominated.” And that is why he has said that he writes a lot with one of his rivals, and the main contender, Demi Moore, because they are coinciding at all the awards galas, since both of their films, Emilia Perez y The substance, coincided at the last Cannes festival. And also with Penélope Cruz, with whom he has been united by “some cosmic coincidences”, beyond the fact that their paths once crossed when they were both teenagers in Alcobendas.
Regarding his role as spokesperson for the trans collective, Gascón wanted to refine his previous speeches. She continues to fight, although she insists that it is just her opinion: “I feel very proud to be able to use my word so that other people do not suffer the same things that I have suffered. But I cannot elect myself as a representative of anyone who has not elected me. I can speak for myself, and if with my words I help people who are in the same situation I will be very happy.” However, he warned: “It makes me very angry when people in groups, no matter what they are, appropriate the word of all the members, without it having been granted to them.”
Regarding the possible poor reception in a country that Gascón knows well because she has worked there for almost a decade, the actress denies problems: “What there is is network noise. The public wants Emilia Perez. I enjoyed it at the first screenings at the Morelia festival and it was repeated a few days ago when we were promoting the premiere. Some on social networks attack it because, simply, I star in it.”
And how does Gascón de Energía reach the final month, before the ceremony on March 2 at the Dolby Theater? “With a lot of energy, the truth is that I don’t know where it comes from. I have nothing else left, I can’t do anything else. I’m not going to go home right now, in the final stretch, it would be a disaster. Anyway, looking forward to meeting Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt.” And at the end of the press conference, he stressed: “I hope that all the votes are subjective in my favor and in favor of “Emilia Pérez.”
