Cannes presents best actress award to trans star Karla Sofia Gascon as ‘ensemble female performance’ wins: Performer tells critics of the decision to ‘change, you bas****s’ as she collects trophy

Actress Karla Sofia Gascon has become the first trans woman to be presented the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival. 

Madrid-born Gascon, 52, who starred in Jacques Audiard’s musical comedy Emilia Perez gave an acceptance speech on behalf of the film’s female cast, which won  the best actress award as an ensemble on Saturday night. 

Female stars in the Spanish-language film included Zoe Saldana, 45, Selena Gomez, 31, and Adriana Paz, 44, who were not present at the closing night of the prestigious awards ceremony on the French Riviera. 

Emilia Perez, which was considered Cannes’ most divisive film, is centred on a lawyer who is recruited by a Mexican drug lord in order to help him undergo a sex change operation to become a woman.

During her acceptance speech, a teary-eyed Gascon said: ‘To every trans person suffering every f***** day with hate…This is for you,’ The Telegraph reported. 

Gascon is the first ever trans woman to be awarded with the Best Actress title at Cannes.

The Best Actress award was given to Gascon and her co-stars Zoe Saldana, Selena Gomez and Adriana Paz as an ensemble.

Selena Gomez reacts to winning best actress alongside her Emilia Perez co-stars. 

Addressing potential critics in her speech, she said: ‘We all have the opportunity to change for the better, to be better people. If you have made us suffer, it is time for you also to change,’ she added. 

Commenting on the jury’s decision to split the best actress award four ways, jury president Greta Gerwig said: ‘Women together – that’s something we wanted to honour when we made this award. Each of them stand out, but together transcendent’. 

Alongside the Best Actress award, Emilia Perez also won the Cannes Jury Prize. 

It marked an unprecedentedly rare moment earning not one, but two awards, whereas prizes are usually spread around. 

Actresses Uma Thurman, Audrey Plaza and Emma Stone were also in the run up for the Best Actress award.

 Last week, the film received a nine-minute standing ovation during its premier at Cannes. 

Gomez, who was joined by co-stars Saldana and Edgar Ramirez, was seen wiping away her tears as the crowds cheered.

The actress was not in attendance on the closing night of the film festival, but took to Instagram to celebrate her win.