Zoe Saldana would love to perform alongside Selena Gomez at the Oscars.
The 46-year-old actress has revealed that she would relish the chance to perform songs from ‘Emilia Perez‘ alongside her co-star. The film, which combines elements of crime drama and musical comedy, has already generated significant buzz in the international film festival circuit.
“I would only do it – and I’m not pitching something, I’m just inspiring ideas – if we start it with ‘El Mal’, we go into ‘Mi Camino’ and we end with [Zoe begins to sing from ‘Las Damas que Pasa’], ‘Dedico este poema’, and we have a Mexican comparsa come out and make it a beautiful homage to Mexico,” the Hollywood actress – who appears in the musical crime comedy film alongside Selena and Karla Sofia Gascon – told Variety. The proposed performance would showcase the rich cultural heritage of Mexican music and dance traditions that date back centuries.
Zoe is a self-confessed “perfectionist” and she would want to spend time planning her performance. Her dedication to perfection stems from her extensive background in dance, having trained as a ballet dancer for over 12 years before pursuing acting.
“This is when my dancer, my ballerina brain, comes along because that means that my team needs to make sure that I have enough weeks to rehearse that beforehand, because I’m a perfectionist, but I’m dyslexic and I have a lot of anxiety. I want to make sure that it’s all right,” she shared. Research shows that approximately 20% of the population experiences dyslexia, making Saldana’s openness about her condition particularly impactful.
Meanwhile, Selena previously claimed that she hasn’t even “scratched the surface” of her acting ambitions. The former Disney Channel star has successfully transitioned from child actor to respected adult performer, a feat achieved by only a small percentage of young performers.
The ‘Only Murders in the Building’ actress has enjoyed huge success in recent years – but Selena still has so many things she wants to achieve in the film and TV industry. Her role in the hit Hulu series has earned her critical acclaim and multiple award nominations.
The brunette beauty – who has also enjoyed huge success in the music world – told The Hollywood Reporter: “Acting has, and will always be, my heart.” Gomez’s musical career has included three number-one albums on the Billboard 200 chart and numerous platinum-certified singles.
“There’s so much that I want to do and that I haven’t even scratched the surface of, and it’s exciting to me.” This sentiment reflects the growing trend of multi-talented artists who successfully navigate both the music and film industries.
The potential Oscar performance would represent a unique fusion of talents, combining Saldana’s dance expertise with Gomez’s musical prowess. The Academy Awards has a long history of memorable musical performances, dating back to its first broadcast in 1953.
Both actresses have demonstrated their versatility throughout their careers, with Saldana known for her roles in major franchises like ‘Avatar’ and ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’, while Gomez has maintained successful careers in both television and music. Their collaboration in ‘Emilia Perez’ marks their first time working together, bringing together two of Hollywood’s most influential Latina actresses.
The film’s musical numbers, which blend traditional Mexican music with contemporary elements, have already received praise from early screenings at international film festivals. The proposed Oscar performance would showcase this unique musical fusion on one of entertainment’s biggest stages.
If realized, this performance would join the ranks of memorable Oscar musical moments, potentially reaching the Academy’s global audience of over 200 million viewers. The inclusion of traditional Mexican elements would also contribute to the Academy’s ongoing efforts to increase cultural diversity in its broadcasts.
