Karla Sofía Gascón stood out in her role in the movie "Emilia Pérez" by portraying the character of Manitas, which after post-production led her to be considered 'the best actress in the world.' Thanks to her performance, the film received 13 nominations at the 2025 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actress.
In an interview, Karla Sofía Gascón shared her experience with French director Jacques Audiard, who initially did not see her as Manitas, but after convincing him with a special audition, she managed to obtain the role. The actress prepared with determination for the character, even sending edited photos and changing her voice to demonstrate her focus and commitment.
Looking back at her performance, Karla Sofía Gascón expressed that she would objectively consider the actress of Manitas as the best in the world, and subjectively she takes pride in having portrayed the role to perfection. Despite this, the actress mentioned that some friends and critics did not believe in her ability to portray both characters, Emilia and Manitas, which annoyed her somewhat but she also took it as a compliment.
Director Jacques Audiard was inspired by a character from the novel "Écuoted" by Boris Razon to create Manitas in the movie "Emilia Pérez." Although the plot of the book differs from the film, Audiard decided to expand that character who is about a drug lord seeking to change gender. This inspiration led to the development of the character of Manitas and contributed to the success and recognition of the film at the 2025 Academy Awards.
