Actress Karla Sofía Gascón, known for her lead role in Emilia Pérez, also plays the drug trafficker Manitas in a film directed by Jacques Audiard. Gascón, nominated for Best Actress at the Oscars, managed to convince the director to obtain both roles, despite initially being considered only for the lead part.
After being rejected by Audiard for the role of Manitas, Gascón went home and decided to audition with filters from the Snapchat application. By modifying her appearance and sending the video to the director, she finally secured the desired role. The actress explained in an interview with Yordi Rosado that this approach allowed her to present the character in a way that convinced the director.
Gascón revealed that while it is something novel, using filters as a technique for presenting characters is not new to her. Previously, she would physically prepare for auditions with the intention of bringing the character to life in the best possible way. In this case, the use of filters allowed her to demonstrate her versatility and convince the production team that she was suitable for both roles in the film.
For his part, director Jacques Audiard was inspired by Boris Razon's novel Écuoted to create the character of Manitas in Emilia Pérez. Audiard sought permission from the author to expand the character, which was originally not fully developed in the literary work. This decision gave rise to a complex and striking character in the film's plot.
The cast of Emilia Pérez features talented actors and actresses, including Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez, Edgar Ramírez, and Adriana Paz. The film, which has garnered 13 nominations at the 2025 Oscars in 12 different categories, has generated great anticipation among the public and critics alike, thanks to the outstanding performance of its entire cast, including the versatile Karla Sofía Gascón in the roles of Emilia and Manitas.
