The Cast of “Emilia Pérez” Awarded French Decoration at Villa Albertine

Presented by the Director of Villa Albertine and Cultural Counselor of France Mohamed Bouabdallah, the award celebrates their remarkable contributions to French cinema and culture.

Read the full speech from the ceremony below.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen – 

I am Mohamed Bouabdallah, Cultural Counselor of France in the United States and Director of Villa Albertine. I am delighted to welcome you tonight as we honor the talented cast of Jacques Audiard’s masterpiece Emilia Pérez: Mesdames Karla Sofia Gascón, Selena Gomez, Adriana Paz, Zoe Saldaña, and Mr. Edgar Ramirez. 

It is a privilege to celebrate your remarkable contributions at this hour and for this film, and I would like to extend a warm welcome to your families, friends, and the entire Emilia Pérez crew who have gathered with us today to show their support.

We are especially pleased to have one of the most renowned French filmmakers with us, Jacques Audiard. Congratulations, dear Jacques, on  this unique film, which was awarded the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival and will represent France at the Academy Awards next year. 

We are here today at Villa Albertine, the French Institute for Culture and Education in the United States, not only because one of our missions is to promote French cinema in the US but also because even more importantly, you all spent significant time in France shooting Emilia Pérez.

Indeed, although the film’s action takes place in Mexico, Israel, and Switzerland, we are proud that most of the shooting took place near Paris, in Bry-sur-Marne, a city next to where my mother lives, in one of the state-of-the-art studios that France offers to visionary directors like Jacques Audiard.

Dear friends,

Each of you has a unique connection to France and to French culture. 

Karla Sofia, your profound portrayal of both Manitas and Emilia Pérez has made a lasting impact. At Cannes, your acceptance speech, which celebrated everyone’s right to be themselves, ended with a very powerful “Vive la France,” leaving us deeply moved. 

Selena, your last music video, “Love On,” directed by French filmmaker Greg Ohrel, is a love letter to France. Your time in Paris inspired you to sing about “conversing over steak tartare” and to capture the spirit of French culture, paying tribute to icons like Brigitte Bardot.

Adriana, not only did you make history as the first Mexican actress to win a prize at Cannes, but your powerful performances have continuously broken boundaries and brought Latin American stories to international attention. 

Edgar, your collaboration with French director Olivier Assayas in Carlos earned you both an Emmy nomination and a César Award for Best Young Actor, which you graciously accepted with a speech in flawless French. 

And Zoe, the Avatar movies, in which you appear as Neytiri, have reached an audience of nearly 30 million in France alone, becoming one of the most successful films in French box office history. The environmental message of Avatar strongly resonated with the French people.

Tonight, as I honor each of you individually, I also want to recognize the collective impact you have made through Emilia Pérez. This film is more than a narrative of transformation; it is a celebration of the values that France holds dear: 

Liberté: Each of your characters fights to be who they truly aspire to be. 

Égalité: The film powerfully advocates for equal rights and the recognition of trans identity. 

Fraternité: Emilia Pérez’s journey turns into a bigger than life story of healing and solidarity. 

What you’ve achieved is not just a spectacular story of rebirth but a tribute to the strength of all women and those who fight for their identity. You embody liberation, equality, and unity, bringing to life a story that captures the essence of French values. 

So, I thank you for showing the world the true meaning of Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité—or in this case, perhaps we should say Sororité.

Karla Sofia Gascón, au nom de la ministre de la Culture, nous vous faisons Chevalier dans l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres. 

Selena Gomez, au nom de la ministre de la Culture, nous vous faisons Chevalier dans l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres. 

Adriana Paz, au nom de la ministre de la Culture, nous vous faisons Chevalier dans l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres. 

Edgar Ramirez, au nom de la ministre de la Culture, nous vous faisons Chevalier dans l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres. 

Zoe Saldaña, au nom de la ministre de la Culture, nous vous faisons Chevalier dans l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres. 

It is now my pleasure to give the floor to Karla Sofia Gascón, who will say a few words.