The film stars Zoe Saldana as Rita, a lawyer forcible recruited by a crime boss, Manitas, played by Karla Sofía Gascón, who wants to undergo gender-confirming surgery to become a woman. She emerges as Emilia Pérez, but will not give up a connection to her wife, Jessi, played by Selena Gomez, and her children.

Jacques Audiard’s “Emilia Pérez” leads the nominations with 13, including best picture and a best actress nod for Karla Sofía Gascón, the first openly trans actor ever nominated. See the full list.

Emilia Perez' leads the 2025 Oscar nominations with 13 nods, followed by 'Wicked' and 'The Brutalist' with 10 each.