It’s not every day that you find yourself in a room with Hollywood royalty like Selena Gomez and Zoe Saldaña, but it’s even rarer that they shower you with compliments. While producing a shoot with the duo for their upcoming film Emilia Pérez, I made the (completely professional) mistake of asking about the British accent—and, well, things took a turn.
When I asked them about their thoughts on the British accent, Selena didn’t hesitate to respond. “Oh my god. Well, I love yours,” she said.
Naturally, as a seasoned professional, I kept my cool—by immediately making the whole moment about me. “I want to make this whole shoot about me now,” I joked.
Selena doubled down, repeating, “I love yours,” while I, still in disbelief, questioned, “Do you?” Before I could process what was happening, Zoe Saldaña gleefully pointed out, “You’re blushing! You’re blushing!”
At this point, I had to put an end to the verbal flattery assault, jokingly telling them to stop. But Selena, ever the charmer, added, “Everything sounds better in a British accent.”
And just like that, I peaked.
Beyond my personal highlight reel moment, Selena and Zoe were on hand to promote Emilia Pérez, a genre-defying film from acclaimed director Jacques Audiard. The film, which blends crime, drama, and musical elements, has been receiving mixed reviews with some praising it’s bold storytelling and powerhouse performances, while others are questioning it’s representation of Mexican culture and the trans-community.
Awards season is taking notice, too. Zoe Saldaña and Karla Sofía Gascón have both earned Oscar nominations for their stunning performances, making Emilia Pérez one of the year’s most-nominated films. Karla, in particular, is making history as the first transgender actress to be nominated in a leading category, marking a huge milestone for representation in Hollywood.
Between a hugely discussed film, major Oscar buzz, and Selena Gomez personally endorsing my accent, this shoot was truly one for the books. And if you ever catch me casually slipping “Selena Gomez said she loved my accent” into random conversations, just let me have this moment.
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