Selena Gomez on how “Emilia Pérez” further connected her to her Mexican identity: 'I'm very proud of who I am'

The multi-hyphenate star performs the role almost entirely in Spanish, which she learned while working on "Selena & Chef."

Audiences may have gotten to know Selena Gomez as a Disney star, but her evolution since her Mouse House beginnings is one that very few child stars have accomplished. And with Emilia Pérez, Netflix's latest Spanish language film, Gomez fully leaps into a role unlike any she's played before.

"I was eager, and I was hungry for something that was thought-provoking," Gomez tells Entertainment Weekly shortly before the film's AFI festival premiere. "I tend to be drawn to things that are a little audacious and maybe dangerous in a way, but I felt like it was something extremely special, and I wanted to be a part of it so badly."

Related: Meet the cast of Emilia Pérez, Netflix's genre-defying musical thriller (and major awards contender)

Emilia Pérez stars Karla Sofia Gascón as the titular character Emilia, a trans woman who, in her previous life, was a vicious and violent cartel boss. With the help of a brilliant but exhausted attorney, Rita (Zoe Saldaña), she had faked her death, leaving behind her former life to transition into the person she'd always longed to be. But, after years hidden away, Emilia emerges, homesick for the family she'd sent away to Switzerland (supposedly for their protection) before transitioning.

"I thought (Jessi) was such a complex character that I really could sink my teeth into. I gave it my all. I tried my hardest," Gomez reflects. "I brought to the table what I could bring — a little bit of vulnerability, and coming from a lot of hardness around her, she was still able to feel love again, and that was really special."

Gomez has been open about not being a native Spanish speaker, and despite having made several Spanish language songs, Emilia Pérez is her first performance done almost entirely in Spanish. The pop star says she chased the role "for months," and fans may have unknowingly witnessed her practicing Spanish basics as she was learning to cook in Selena & Chef. But, she says, she never imagined she would actually get the job.

"I just wanted to know that I could do it," she admits. "What's really difficult about my position is that I am really surrounded by predominantly white English-speaking people. So, to be a part of something like this was truly meaningful because I'm very proud of who I am. I may not be fluent, but that doesn't make me less proud or less Mexican in my eyes. I think it's about what my last name has always meant to me: it's my family. It's everything that's a part of me."

She adds that "it was really helpful, and it was great to do the movie" because "everyone around us was speaking Spanish mainly, and when you're not around that, it's definitely hard to keep it going. That's the only bummer thing for me personally, but I hope it's not my last project I do in Spanish. It is something that I feel I've gotten better at. I can understand a whole conversation now, so be aware of what you say in front of me."

Related: Emilia Pérez is a joyfully erratic opera swirled with a soapy melodrama

The film itself is a bold and unflinching musical reminiscent of the Mexican musicals of the past that starred icons like Pedro Infante and Vicente Fernández. All the stars sing and dance (with Saldaña reminding everyone who was the true Center Stage star in one of the film's most riveting numbers), and although Gomez is the certified pop star of the leads, she claims neither Gascón nor Saldaña needed any advice from her for their performances.

"They didn't need any help, and I honestly don't think I would've given them the right sort of advice. I was figuring out what to do in this role as well, and it was basically to forget that I was a pop singer," she says. "It was really nice to get lost in the character. I've never danced that way. I've never had those kind of experiences. Plus, Zoe needed to give me tips because that girl can dance."

After months of immersing herself in the role, and with her music and acting background, one may wonder if she's debating heading for the Broadway stage. With wide eyes, Gomez sits back, carefully musing before admitting the idea "terrifies" her. She adds, "I don't know if I'm ready for something like that. It isn't something that I'm saying no to. By all means, I love theater, and I enjoy it so much, but it also terrifies me. I like the idea of being able to make a few mistakes here and there and maybe one day, but I don't think soon."

Related: Emilia Pérez, a Martha Stewart documentary, and Cyndi Lauper's farewell tour top this week's Must List

One thing she is definitely not saying no to: more Spanish language roles.

"I think I'll always want to do something, and this was just a taste of it. I was so excited, and the result was life-giving. I feel like whether it's music or if it's a part of a show or a movie, I am completely open. I would love that. The more I learn, the better it is for my soul."

Emilia Pérez is now streaming on Netflix.