Karla Sofía Gascón made Oscar history with a Best Actress nomination for Emilia Pérez at the 97th Academy Awards. She was the first openly transgender actor nominated in an Oscar acting category—a milestone that does not mean she was the first transgender person ever nominated for an Oscar. Gascón did not win; Mikey Madison took the award.
What was Gascón nominated for?
Gascón was nominated for Best Actress for her performance in Emilia Pérez. The Academy’s official 97th Academy Awards record lists her among the nominees and Mikey Madison as the winner. The ceremony took place on March 2, 2025.
The nominations were announced on January 23, 2025. The Associated Press reported that Emilia Pérez received 13 nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actress for Gascón (AP report).
What made the nomination historic?
Contemporary coverage described Gascón as the first openly transgender actor nominated in an Oscar acting category. The Los Angeles Times characterized her as the first openly transgender woman nominated in an acting category (Los Angeles Times); the Associated Press and CBS News likewise reported the acting-category milestone (CBS News).
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Why the wording matters
The milestone is specifically about an acting nomination, not any Oscar nomination in any category. Transgender nominees had appeared in other categories before Gascón; the Los Angeles Times cites composer Angela Morley as an earlier example. Calling Gascón the first transgender person ever nominated for an Oscar would therefore overstate the history.
It also matters to distinguish a nomination from a win: Gascón made history as a nominee, while the Academy’s ceremony record lists Madison as the 2025 Best Actress winner.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Did Oscar inclusion standards determine her acting nomination?
No such conclusion follows from the Academy’s published standards. The Academy’s representation and inclusion standards concern eligibility for Best Picture. They should not be presented as the rules that caused or governed Gascón’s individual Best Actress nomination.
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