Selena Gomez Spent 6 Months Taking Spanish Lessons to Prep for 'Emotional' "Emilia Pérez" Role

11/21/2024 05:23 PM

"I try to honor my culture as much as possible — from releasing an album in Spanish to wanting to pursue this movie," says Gomez, who's been garnering Oscar buzz

Selena Gomez returned to her roots for her head-turning role in Emilia Pérez.

While the actress and singer, 32, grew up speaking Spanish with her family in Texas, she opened up on NPR's Fresh Air about losing her fluency for the language after moving to California to pursue an entertainment career.

"I got my first job at 7, and most of my jobs from that point on were English," she said. "And I just lost [my Spanish]. That's kind of the case for a lot of people, especially Mexican American people."

Gomez plays a cartel leader's wife in Netflix's critically acclaimed film, and the star says she took language lessons for nearly six months in preparation.

"I wish I just knew a lot more than I do. But I think that's why I try to honor my culture as much as possible — from releasing an album in Spanish to wanting to pursue this movie," said Gomez, who's been garnering Oscar buzz. "And I don't think it'll be the last thing I do in Spanish."

Related: Selena Gomez Recalls 'Dancing Like a Mad Woman' in 'Crazy' Emilia Pérez Audition: 'I Blacked Out'

While she's seen massive success as a pop star throughout her career, singing in Emilia Pérez was an "emotional" experience that also reignited Gomez's passion for music.

"It was one of the most emotional songs that I got to record during the process of shooting this movie. And I remember just singing it and thinking to myself: This could have been my song," she said of "Mi Camino."

"And this could have been a song on an album I would put out personally because it's so well said and it feels very true to who I am, to where I am," she continued.

Last month, Gomez told The Hollywood Reporter she auditioned for the film with the character's biggest scene: a musical number, "Bienvenida," during which she vents her frustrations about the titular Emilia Pérez (played by Spanish star Karla Sofía Gascón).

"I did it once, and [director Jacques Audiard] was like, 'Go crazier.' And I went totally for it. I was standing on furniture, and I blacked out, but I was just singing my heart out and dancing like a mad woman — I guess a drunk mad woman — and it was a very crazy experience," said Gomez.