GUARDIANS of the Galaxy star Zoe Saldana has revealed she had to work hard to perfect her singing voice for her role in musical crime comedy Emilia Pérez.
The 46-year-old, who sang on Broadway as a teenager, admits she had to dig deep to re-tune her voice for the movie in which she plays a Mexican lawyer who helps a notorious cartel boss retire and transition into living as a woman.
Zoe, who stars opposite Selena Gomez, Karla Sofía Gascón and Adriana Paz in the Oscar-tipped film, said: “I’m one of those people who like to think they can hold a tune. When I sing in the shower I think I sound pretty good.
“Whether anyone else would think the same is debatable but I think I sound like Beyonce! I grew up loving musicals and I being part of small musicals around New York so I had sung before. I was just a little rusty. I worked a lot to find my voice again and the confidence to do this. It wasn’t easy but I loved it.”
The Avatar star, who is a trained dancer, added: “There is also a lot of dancing in the movie. I worked a lot on the choreography. Being able to reconnect with dance was something so special about this whole experience for me.
“It’s a very unusual and very special story. It’s a movie about four Hispanic women and it’s in Spanish. It centres around four women of colour and it’s kind of a musical with a tones of opera.
“It was actually going to be an opera originally. I describe it as not just a niche movie but a niche-of-a-niche-of-a-niche movie. You have never seen anything like it. It’s almost indescribable because it is so unique.”
The mum-of-three, who is married to Italian artist Marco Perego, says she has fallen in love with her feisty character and admits working with director Jacques Audiard was a dream come true.
Zoe, who portrayed Gamora in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies, said: “I play Rita Moro Castro – a lawyer working for a firm in Mexico City who, quite literally, helps criminals get away with murder.
“She is always kept in the background by her co-workers. She is under-appreciated, overlooked, feeling run-down and burnt out by the system and the environment she is in.
“Rita’s desperate to get out and to make a change in her life when she meets someone who makes that possible. Emilia Perez was born a man but is a woman.
“She has lived a life of violence as part of a cartel but she dreams of escaping and of fully becoming the woman she is. The proposal she makes to Rita to be her lawyer is life-changing and it comes at a huge price but my character doesn’t think twice. “She sees it as her chance to escape in a similar way all the women in the story are seeking an escape and their own authentic freedom.”
Zoe, who played the lead role of a CIA officer in the Paramount+ spy series Special Ops: Lioness, added: “Jacques Audiard is my idol. I have always been such a huge fan of his work. Because of the genres I have worked in and the kinds of movies I have been so fortunate to make over my career, I never thought I would be asked to do something like this.
“I read the script, loved it, I auditioned but then to actually be asked to play this character really was a dream come true. This story of life-chances and taking a chance for something better is right down my alley.
“If I wasn’t going to be in this, I would be watching it because I am obsessed with art in this form and with storytellers like Jacques. It’s an emotional moment to be here now.”
In May, Karla, 52, who lived as a man until she was 46-years-old, became the first transgender actor to win the best actress award at the Cannes Film Festival for her role as Emilia and many have been predicting the “unique” movie could sweep the boards at next year’s Oscars.
Zoe, who shared the Cannes award with Karla, Selena, and Adriana, said: “I don’t know about me but the fact that this film, Karla Sofia Gascon especially, is part of the conversation this awards season is so exciting. I’m proud to be a part of that.
“But the reaction to the film generally has been incredible. I think we all knew it was going to be something very special and that it would appeal to many but nothing could have prepared us for this.
“The reaction from audiences who have seen it has been so warm and positive. From our premiere at Cannes, the reception has been just incredible. People don’t just watch Emilia Perez, they feel it. I can’t wait for everyone to see this film and to enjoy a story that they would never have experienced had it not been for Jacques and his amazing vision as a filmmaker.”
Zoe, who is Dominican and Puerto Rican, added: “I formed a very special bond with Selena, Karla and Adriana. They are three such special, talented and powerful women. We all came into this knowing how special and unique this was as an opportunity and we all really bonded and supported each other to give our very best for each of our characters.”
The Pirates of the Caribbean star, who is currently filming Avatar 4, admits she nearly missed out on the role as she was busy filming other movies. She said: “It first came to me in 2022 when I was busy with Guardians of the Galaxy and Lioness. So I didn’t think I was going to be able to do it. Thankfully Jacques decided to wait a year which allowed me to take the chance to work with my idol. I’m so grateful he did.”
Zoe, whose movies have grossed more than $15million world-wide, added: “When it comes to choosing roles I always use the same criteria. I follow my heart. It’s the material, it’s the chance to work with interesting directors and it’s about working with the right kind of people.
“I have been doing this for 20 years, I feel very fortunate to have been a part of some huge franchises and to work at the magnitude I have. This moment is up there with anything I have done. It’s special. I want more films like this to be made and I hope to be a part of more.”
But despite starring in so many incredible movies, Zoe admits her favourite role is being “mum” to her three sons – nine-year-old twins Cy Aridio and Bowie Ezio and Zen, seven.
She said: “Becoming a mum has changed my approach to work. If I never had another role, another opportunity like this, I would be happy because I am a mother to my children.
“Everything else comes second to that. Everything I do now is part of the legacy I hope to leave for them.”
– Emilia Perez hits UK cinemas on Friday October 25
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