Selena Gomez

A rising star at Disney Channel, the 17-year-old Selena Gomez started performing at a very young age. Today, her series Wizards of Waverly Place, about an “ordinary” Manhattan family of wizards who juggle running a sandwich shop while raising squabbling teens, is one of the most popular series among tween viewers. The movie Princess Protection Program, which she co-starred in with Demi Lovato, another Disney Channel fresh face, scored record ratings. In the movie Another Cinderella Story, a remake of the classic fairy tale, Gomez demonstrated that not only can she sing and act, she dances, too—quite well. And the recent U.S. premiere of Wizards of Waverly Place The Movie attracted 11.4 million viewers, making it the number one entertainment telecast of 2009 among kids 6-11 and tweens 9-14 and the number one cable telecast among all viewers.

From what colleagues and Disney Channel executives say, Gomez’s talent is surpassed by her generosity of spirit and down-to-earth nature. She took time out from her hectic schedule of shooting a weekly series while promoting a CD to talk to TV Kids.

 

TV KIDS: When did you start becoming interested in performing? Did acting or dancing or singing come first?

GOMEZ: I always say it’s in my DNA. I definitely have been singing since I was able to and followed it by acting when I was very young.

 

TV KIDS: When were you discovered and what was your big break in the business?

GOMEZ: I was age 7 and I got a role on Barney and Friends, taping in my hometown of Dallas, Texas.

 

TV KIDS: What makes Wizards of Waverly Place so successful and appealing to kids in several different countries?

GOMEZ: I really love that the show is very family-oriented and the stories are relatable. I don’t think we have a “secret,” but the magic of our show is being able to make both parents and kids laugh. People like it, no matter where they live. What kid doesn’t wish that they could do magic, become invisible or rewind time? But at the same time, the characters are so relatable as everyday teenagers. My character, Alex, has an older brother and a younger brother, and they’re all different ages and trying to be normal kids going to school, and dealing with family issues. We just toss in a little bit of magic, and it makes it a little bit more fun.

TV KIDS: What were some of the creative challenges you faced filming Another Cinderella Story?

GOMEZ: The challenge was one I hope I face with every project and that’s to make my character unique and interesting. I also got to work with a wonderful, talented actor and singer, Drew Seeley, and he’s a great friend.

TV KIDS: Tell us about the movie Princess Protection Program, what appealed to you about the project?

GOMEZ: Princess Protection Program is about a young princess whose country is about to be taken over and, in order for her to get away from all the bad guys there, she has to go into this undercover princess protection program. She has to cut her hair; she’s given a secret identity and she has to come live with my character and her dad.

And my character, Carter, and the princess, Rosie [played by Demi Lovato], kind of butt heads a lot and they don’t agree on stuff. But I think the movie mainly is about just finding who you are and finding what friendship means and what it is to have someone by your side.

I liked the character I play because she puts on this front that she’s a confident girl and she doesn’t need anyone by her side, but deep down inside she’s just a girl who needs a best friend to be there for her to help her through things. Meeting Rosie changes her as they become friends. She finds out who she really is and it’s neat, towards the end of the movie it’s like she becomes a princess as well.

TV KIDS: Tell us about some of the different challenges—and fun parts—between acting in a series and acting in a movie.

GOMEZ: Shooting two movies in Puerto Rico, Princess Protection Program and Wizards of Waverly Place, was fun. It was kind of like going on a vacation and working at the same time. For the Wizards of Waverly Place movie, we were right on the beach, and we got to go to the rain forest and the cast all went salsa dancing one night. For Princess Protection Program, it was like my family and my best friend’s family all going on vacation together. But it’s always nice to come “home,” to the crew on the Wizards of Waverly Place series set in Hollywood where I am working now. They’re like a second family to me.

TV KIDS: What creative environment have you found at Disney Channel?

GOMEZ: After I kept auditioning and waiting and then was cast in two pilots, I knew Disney Channel believed in me. They’ve listened to me and presented me with more opportunities to play different characters, to work on series, movies and special projects and to sing on the series and in Princess movie soundtracks. It really has become a launch pad for other aspects of my career, including my solo debut album, Kiss & Tell, which came out September 29 on Hollywood Records!

TV KIDS: Who have been your role models or mentors—whether actors, performers or friends and relatives?

GOMEZ: My mom is my role model because she’s smart, creative, supportive and treats all people with respect. On the Wizards set, [co-stars] David [Henrie] and Jake [Austin] are like my brothers. We fight, we get on each other’s nerves, and it’s normal. I look up to them, and I ask advice from them, and they are very protective of me, like brothers would be. I’ve gotten really close to my cast, and Jennifer [Stone] has become my best friend and Maria [Canals-Barrera] and David [DeLuise], the parents on the series, they’re like my second parents. We are all so close, and I’m so thankful for that and know it translates on screen.

TV KIDS: What advice do you have for a young girl who would like to become a performer, and in particular a “triple threat”—talented in three areas: acting, singing and dancing—as you are?

GOMEZ: I say go for it, follow your dreams and most of all, be prepared to always work at improving your skills and challenging yourself to do better—that’s the ultimate reward, growth and fulfillment as an artist and the ability to make people laugh or touch their hearts with your work, no matter how old you are or what you choose to do in life.

TV KIDS: I’m sure you have had to make some sacrifices while you perfected your talents, maybe not spending as much time with friends or in other activities. Where do you get your drive and how do you stay focused on your goals?

GOMEZ: I do miss my family in Texas and spending time with friends, but I also love my craft and the feedback I get from my fans helps keep me focused on delivering new projects and reaching my goals. I also know it’s important to balance and make good use of free time and days off, and sometimes that means just lazing around the house with my dogs!

 

TV KIDS: You have become a role model for many young girls. What values and what image do you want associated with the Selena Gomez the public sees?

GOMEZ: It’s very flattering to be considered a role model but I truly just set out each day to do my best and if I am sending a message to young girls, I hope they know it’s, “Be yourself, be proud and treat others like you want to be treated.”

TV KIDS: What new projects are you working on?

GOMEZ: I am very excited about my first album, Kiss & Tell, performing with my band, The Scene, and next year, going on a concert tour.

TV KIDS: What do you enjoy most about your work?