Washington, April 25 -- Selena Gomez is rising above the criticism surrounding her Spanish language skills in the film 'Emilia Perez'.

Despite facing backlash and debate over her Mexican American heritage, the actress is focusing on celebrating her work and the experience of playing a bicultural character.

In a recent interview with Billboard, Gomez shared her thoughts on the film and the criticism she faced.

"I pushed myself into uncomfortable spaces, which as an actress are the most rewarding," she said, adding, "It was a magical time and working with [director] Jacques Audiard was one of my best experiences."

Gomez faced harsh criticism for her Spanish speaking and dialect, including from Mexican actor Eugenio Derbez, who called he...