Zoe Saldana had dreamed of working withJacques Audiardwhen she learned he was makingEmilia Perezhis Spanish language female-led dramedy musical.
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ZOE SALDANA:Thank you so much.
Its a wonderful giftjust a warm reception and the support that we continue to getits wonderful.
Zoe Saldaña and Karla Sofía Gascón in Netflix’s ‘Emilia Pérez’Shanna Besson/Pathé
What prompted you to make that list?
And I created this small list.
And then were not going to really get anything done.
L to R: Zoe Saldaña as Rita Moro Castro and Karla Sofía Gascón as Emilia Pérez in ‘Emilia Pérez’Netflix
And when you receive a call like that, you kind of have an out-of-body experience, you know?
Jacques Audiard is doing a movie that I may be right for?
DEADLINE: Youve said that Spanish was your first language at home.
What did it feel like to speak Spanish while acting and singing?
So I dont necessarily live consciously knowing that Im code switching.
Its just something that you naturally do when youre a daughter of immigrants.
DEADLINE: You beginEmilia Perezas this protagonist figure Rita, and then Emilia comes in.
There are, as you say, four great female roles here.
Its so much more about the women and their interior lives.
SALDANA:In that sense, it felt to me like an accurate portrayal.
You know what I mean?
Rita was a male.
He was an Argentine lawyer who was 25.
And I really commend him for that.
SALDANA:I love that.
You know, and I love that.
I love that the most about Jacques Audiard.
Tell me about that character and how you drew the strength and power to inhabit her?
She doesnt fight men for the sake of fighting men.
Her big battle isnt to get men out of her way.
And I think that shes a perfectionist.
Most importantly, I just wanted to tell a story of women that serve.
And I think its time that we do.
But I dont feed into the political inclines that people believeLionessto have.
I may not agree with him at all times, but I certainly respect his work.
What projects are you looking toward?
SALDANA:I think just female-driven subjects.
And I thinkEmilia Perezwas a testament to that.
What drew me to this project, besides Jacques Audiard, were these four women inEmilia Perez.
These women are versatile.
These women are familiar.
They feel so kindred to me.
I felt so much compassion for them.
I was rooting for them.
Do you feel like you might do more of that now going forward?
SALDANA:If the opportunity presents itself likeEmilia Perezdid, oh my god, absolutely.
DEADLINE: And as a producer, are you looking for projects that might involve music and dance?
SALDANA:I think I feel like Jacques in that sense, like I like non-musical musicals.
Theres just something really contrived sometimes in a musical that I cant really get into.
But for some reason when theyre translated into films, that nuance, that surprise, goes away.
But she said it had been such a sisterhood on set and she had learned so much from you.
Can you talk about that dynamic, particularly working so closely with her?
SALDANA:I mean, its an honor to receive that feedback.
She believed the most.
She was totally dedicated to what she was doing.
She would make me laugh, like mouth-open-out-loud, half of the time.
I have a great level of respect for her.
I am so honored that she can make history withEmilia Perezand she deserves it.
Emilia Perezis currently streaming onNetflix.
