Karla Sofia Gascon feels inspired by criticism.

The 52-year-old actress - who starred alongside Selena Gomez and Zoe Saldana in 'Emilia Perez' - doesn't shy away from criticism of herself and she actually uses it as motivation.

Karla told The Hollywood Reporter: "There is a part of society that lives off hate, that lives off selling hate, and there is another part that wants to live in hope, with the same rights, all of us in peace and respect.

"I always see it as a struggle between light and dark. The brighter the light is, the darker the shadows are. And I am public enemy number one right now in the world for many people."

Karla has learned to live with criticism, and she now channels it into something positive.

The movie star said: "I've gotten used to it. In fact, I love it. It's my gasoline to then tell the people of the light: 'You have won.' The more people hate me, the more insulting messages they send, the more I say, 'Thank you,' and the more I'm going to enjoy this moment."

The actress fulfilled a dream when director Jacques Audiard approached her about starring in 'Emilia Perez'.

And she's been blown away by the recent reaction to the musical-comedy film.

Karla shared: "It was as if I'd entered a store, bought an oil lamp, rubbed it and out came a genie.

"He would have said, 'Hi, I'm Jacques, what are your three wishes?' and I would have said, 'I want to make the best film in the history of cinema, I want to be the best actress in the history of cinema, and I want us to do very well.'"