Famous director Jacques Audiard, known for his masterpiece “Emilia Pérez”, recently made a surprising revelation.
He admitted he didn’t fully realize Selena Gomez’s enormous popularity in the United States when he cast her in his movie.
Despite having a large following on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, Audiard admits to being unfamiliar with the digital landscape.
In an interview, Audiard shared his opinion on Selena Gomez’s casting, saying, “I have absolutely no idea. I am completely unfamiliar with this generation of Instagram and TikTok social networks. I don’t have access to all of that. I knew her from Spring Breakers and the Woody Allen movie she did, [A Rainy Day in New York]. I just wanted to work with her for that. And when I met her one morning in a coffee shop in New York, I knew immediately that I wanted to work with her.”
Despite Audiard’s initial ignorance, Selena Gómez’s interpretation of the character in ‘Emilia Pérez’ enthralled audiences and critics. The film, described as a “gripping and unique police musical,” earned Gomez the prestigious Best Actress award at the 77th Cannes Film Festival. Her co-stars were Zoe Saldana, Karla Sofía Gascón and Adriana Paz were also praised for their outstanding performances.
Greta Gerwig, president of the Cannes Film Festival jury, praised the cast for their exceptional chemistry and individual excellence. “Separating them would weaken the magic of what they did together,” he emphasized. Each of them is a standout. They are transcendent.”
Reflecting on her audition experience, Selena Gomez reveals her initial uncertainty after not hearing back from Audiard for a year. “Yeah, we had the audition and then I didn’t hear anything. I acted crazy during the audition. He wanted me to do one of the numbers and I just gave in and gave it my all. I thought, at least I can walk away and say I did the best I could. “When he asked me to join, I was nervous but also excited,” Gomez said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
Despite Audiard’s limited knowledge of her, Selena Gomez appreciated the director’s willingness to give her a chance based solely on her performance. She emphasized the importance of the opportunity, saying: “Jacques, who didn’t really know anything about me, took a chance and believed in me just based on what I could do and that was really special. special for me. I think this is really important and I choose projects based on the filmmaker, the content, the meaning, everything.”
In short, the story behind Selena Gomez’s breakthrough role in ‘Emilia Pérez’ is a testament to both her talent and Jacques Audiard’s visionary direction. Despite initial uncertainties, their collaboration created cinematic magic that captivated audiences around the world.