Karla Sofía Gascon "contemplated the unthinkable" amid the backlash over her past social media posts.

The 52-year-old star - who was the first trans person to be nominated for an Oscar for her performance in 'Emilia Perez' - faced a backlash after alleged past inflammatory tweets from 2016-2020 resurfaced and she's now reflected on the "dark thoughts" she experienced as a result.

She told The Hollywood Reporter: "In this last episode, the most talked about and most exposed of my life, several fake accounts were created in my name to add to the pain and confusion.

"Absurd and even delirious accusations were thrown at me, which deeply hurt my spirit. Things escalated to a point, and so quickly, that I couldn't even breathe.

"Amid this unexpected, devastating storm, there have been moments when the pain has been so overwhelming that I contemplated the unthinkable. I harboured darker thoughts than those I considered in some of my previous, no less intimate and personal struggles.

"And I asked myself: if I, with all my strength and preparedness to deal with rage and rejection, am on the edge, what would have become of someone with fewer emotional resources to resist this onslaught? Somehow, I made it. Others would not have survived this brutal winter I am about to wrap up."

And the actress - whose social media comments allegedly included posts about the murder of George Floyd, the Muslim community, and diversity at the Oscars - told how now the "storm is caling down" somewhat, she has reflected on what she has learned during the "dark moment", including a realisation that hatred "cannot be put down with more hatred."

She said: "Fortunately, I have kept my one inch of sanity to see the light at the end of this tunnel of hate and understand that I must be and do better, and correct my past faults, without engaging in more darkness.

"Otherwise, if I play their game, and reciprocate and amplify all that hate others project on me, I will get lost; I will never move forward, and I won't be able to keep helping others still stuck in the storm."

Karla went on to apologise and asked for forgiveness for all those she has offended "at any point" in her life.

She said: "Lately, as I have been the target of harmful words, I have also said hurtful things throughout my life that have caused others to feel offended--things done and said from fear, from my own ignorance, from my own pain, from the outside of that cold, upsetting shield.

"With no excuse, and without any intention to justify any of my past actions, I apologise to all I have offended at any point in my life and throughout my journey.

"I humbly ask for their forgiveness and, to honour their kindness and understanding, I promise I will commit to continuing to learn and listen, so as not to make the same mistakes in the future."

Ahead of the Oscars, the actress had vowed to step away from the spotlight so as not to take away attention from the film and its other nominations, and while she was pleased to attend the Academy Awards, she wished the circumstances had been different.

She said: "I loved the ceremony, honestly, I found it very enjoyable.

"I would have liked to experience it more normally, from the happiness of being nominated, of celebrating, as I am now, full of love, a person who puts her soul and her being into her work and who gives herself to others.

"I am very grateful to return and for how my colleagues and the professionals of the Hollywood industry received me. I am grateful to the academy, to Netflix and to the production."