Selena Gomez sang her heart out and danced like a “drunk mad woman” during her audition for the movie musical Emilia Pérez.

In the upcoming crime musical, the Only Murders in the Building star plays Jessi del Monte, the wife of a Mexican cartel boss who fakes his own death and transitions into a woman named Emilia Pérez.

To audition for the role, Gomez performed Jessi’s standout musical number Bienvenida, in which she angrily throws her belongings around a bedroom.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter at the film’s Los Angeles premiere on Monday, the 32-year-old revealed she went all in during the “very crazy experience”.

“I had no idea the concept of what he was going for, the director Jacques (Audiard) literally said to me, act drunk and throw your shoes if you want, and just go crazy,” she recalled. “I did it once and he was like, ‘go crazier’.

“I went totally for it. I was standing on furniture and I black out. I was just singing my heart out and dancing like a mad woman, I guess a drunk mad woman. It was a very crazy experience but I was honoured when he decided to ultimately go with me.”

Emilia Pérez, which also stars Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón and Édgar Ramírez, marks a new direction for the former child star. She told the outlet that it feels like “the beginning” and she hopes to continue being “inspired by great filmmakers”.

The film will be released on Netflix on 13 November after a limited theatrical run.

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