Selena Gomez has revealed that acting in the Spanish-language film ‘Emilia Perez’ helped her establish a deeper connection with her Mexican heritage.

Thursday, November 14, 2024, 11:00 p.m

Thursday, November 14, 2024, 11:00 p.m

Selena Gomez made a deeper connection with her Mexican identity by starring in “Emilia Perez.”

The 32-year-old star plays Jessi Del Monte in the Spanish-language film and explained that the role was “meaningful” as she has Mexican heritage on her father Ricardo’s side of the family.

Selena told Entertainment Weekly that she sang in Spanish: “I just wanted to know that I could do it.

“What’s really difficult about my position is that I’m really surrounded by predominantly white English-speaking people. So to be a part of something like this was really meaningful because I’m very proud of who I am.

“Maybe I’m not fluent, but that doesn’t make me any less proud or any less Mexican in my eyes. I think it’s about what my last name has always meant to me: it’s my family. It’s everything that’s part of of me.”

The former Disney star hopes she will be able to speak Spanish in a future role as she fears her understanding of the language could decline if she doesn’t speak it regularly.

Selena said: “Everyone around us spoke mainly Spanish, and when you’re not around that, it’s definitely hard to carry on. This is the only unpleasant thing for me personally, but I hope it won’t be my last project I do in Spanish. It’s something I feel like I’ve gotten better at.

“I can understand a whole conversation now, so be aware of what you say in front of me.”

The ‘Only Murders in the Building’ actress continued: ‘I think I’ll always want to do something, and this was just a taste. I was so excited and the result was life-giving.

“I feel like whether it’s music or whether it’s part of a show or a movie, I’m completely open. I would like that. The more I learn, the better it is for my soul.”