The Emilia Pérez role is Gomez’s first in a Spanish-speaking part, but she told Variety that she spoke Spanish at home until she was 7 and grew up embracing her Mexican heritage with her father’s side of the family. The Wizards of Waverly Place alum also brought Spanish into her music in 2021, when she released the EP Revelación.

The actor and singer recently landed a Golden Globe nomination for her role in the predominantly Spanish-language film.

Selena Gomez is up for two acting awards at the 2025 Golden Globes for her roles in the film "Emilia Pérez" and the series "Only Murders in the Building."

"I did the best I could with the time I was given," wrote Gomez, who speaks Spanish in the film despite not being fluent.

Eugenio Derbez is walking back his harsh comments about Selena Gomez‘s performance in the Netflix musical movie Emilia Pérez. During a recent appearance on the Hablando de Cine podcast, the Mexican actor and comedian criticized Gomez's attempt at speaking Spanish in the film,