Karla Sofia Gascon becomes first trans woman nominated for leading actress in Bafta’s history

She has made history

Emilia Perez is one of the leading titles on the 2025 BAFTA Film Awards shortlist after securing 11 nominations, including Best Film and Best Director.

The only film to better it with the number of nominations is Conclave who picked up 12.

Gascon has been nominated in the leading Actress category for her portrayal of the titular role of Emilia.

The film follows the story of a former Mexican cartel boss who fakes her own death in order to undergo gender-affirming surgery.

No other trans actresses have ever been nominated for the accolade.

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Gascon will face tough opposition in the stacked category as she goes up against Wicked's Cynthia Erivo, The Substance star Demi Moore, The Outrun’s Saoirse Ronan, Anora’s Mikey Madison, and Hard Truths actress, Marianne Jean-Baptiste.

Zoe Saldana and Selena Gomez who also star in Emilia Perez are nominated in the Supporting Actress category for their roles.

Saldaña and Gomez will go up against Wicked’s Ariana Grande, Conclave’s Isabella Rossellini, The Brutalist’s Felicity Jones, and The Last Showgirl’s Jamie Lee Curtis.

Gascon has already seen success on the awards circuit so far.

Back in May, she became the first ever trans woman to be awarded the Best Actress title at Cannes Film Festival and earlier this month, she was the first trans actress nominated in the Best Actress (Musical or Comedy) category, but lost out on the win to Moore.

She is hotly tipped to be named as a contender in the Best Actress category at the 2025 Oscars when the nominees are revealed next week.