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Selena Gomez
Disney's next big star?
By Michelle
Selena Gomez - Disney's next big thing
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Selena Kayleigh Gomez was born on July 22, 1992 in Texas, USA. As a child, Selena watched her mother who acted in local theaters. Selena’s big break happened in 2002 on the TV show Barney and Friends, playing character Gianna. “I told my mom that I wanted to try acting and I ended up doing Barney and Friends, which was shot in Texas,” Selena explains. After doing about three years of Barney and Friends, a twelve year-old Selena was discovered in a nationwide casting call by Disney. “[My life] changed pretty drastically!” Selena recalls. “I moved from Dallas, Texas, to Los Angeles. And it was sad to say goodbye to my friends and family, but it was a happy moment too. They were so proud of me for achieving my dreams. I miss the quiet nights and hanging out at the lake with my friends.”
After Disney had discovered Selena, she got straight to work. She filmed an episode as character Stephanie Sanchez for a show called Stevie Sanchez. Unfortunately, Disney decided not to air the TV show, which was a spin off of the TV show Lizzie McGuire starring Hilary Duff. Selena didn’t give up though. She had a small part in the movie Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire playing Julie in 2005. She also guest-starred as Gwen in the Disney Channel show The Suite Life of Zack and Cody in 2006, which starred twins Cole and Dylan Sprouse. In July 2007, Selena guest-starred in two episodes of the wildly popular Disney show Hannah Montana starring Miley Cyrus. She played character Mikayla, who was Hannah Montana’s rival pop star.
Selena is currently starring in the Disney Channel show Wizards of Waverly Place, along with Jake Austin and David Henrie. The show premiered in October 2007, and Selena plays character Alex Russo. Wizards of Waverly Place follows Alex, Aaron, and Max Russo, who on the surface appear to be completely normal, but are actually all wizards in training. “I was ecstatic [when I found out I got the role], but I was nervous and scared too,” she says. “I felt a little bit of everything.” What’s it like behind the scenes of the show? “I can’t even explain it!” Selena says. “I am very confident when I say that we are the closest cast Disney Channel has ever had. We’ve been told that because we spend every waking moment with each other—it’s insane! Jake, Jen, David, and I do karaoke together, we go to the movies, and we go surfing every weekend. And as soon as we get off work, we text and call each other. My mom is always like, ‘You act like you never see each other!’ We’ve just gotten so close. [And] it’s pretty cool to have these brothers on the show. They’re like my real brothers. They’re very protective of me and I can go to them about anything. It’s so cool!” Selena exclaims.
A young Selena
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“[My character] Alex is more outgoing and spunky [than me],” Selena explains. “I’m definitely outgoing but I don’t get into as much trouble. She usually breaks the rules and I’m pretty much a good girl. When it comes to clothes, I’m a huge Converse girl—I have so many pairs—and in the show, that’s all my character wears! Actually, [the writers] wanted to make Alex the spunky type, so Wardrobe would always talk to me and get ideas from the clothes I’d wear to the set. Now my character wears nothing but Converse! That’s so fun for me because I get to wear different Converse all the time.”
“I didn’t think I’d have fans until the show came out,” Selena continues. “But Jake and I have been stopped before. They’ll say, ‘We went to one of your tapings!’ It’s such a cool feeling when fans come up to you because they’re so excited and nervous. Meanwhile, I’m thinking, ‘I’m more excited and nervous than you are right now!’ It’s pretty cool.”
Selena is currently finishing voicing the mayor’s daughter in the movie Horton Hears a Who!, which is set to be released in 2008, and is rumored to be filming a movie titled Another Cinderella Story playing Mary.
Any last words of advice from Selena? “My mom has always told me, ‘Remember where you came from,” she says. “I was surrounded by the best people back home. I’ll never forget that. Just expressing yourself and being true to yourself means more than anything!”
To contact Selena, write to:
Selena Gomez
The Collective
9100 Wilshire Boulevard
Suite 700 West
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
Fun Facts
Selena is about 5 feet, 5 inches (or about 1.65 meters) tall.
Selena is an only child.
She enjoys cheerleading, surfing, going to the movies, and singing in her free time.
Selena is still friends with Demi Lovato, who was her co-star on Barney and Friends. Demi is also a Disney star and she currently has a role on the Disney Channel Short Series As the Bell Rings.
Stevie Sanchez was also going to include character Miranda Sanchez, played by Lalaine Vergara-Paras, from Lizzie McGuire.
The two Hannah Montana episodes that Selena guest-starred in were titled “I Want You to Want Me…To Go to Florida” and “That’s What Friends Are For?”.
The episode that Selena guest-starred in for The Suite Life of Zack and Cody was titled “A Midsummer’s Nightmare”.
Selena’s role on Wizards of Waverly Place was originally offered to Alexa Nikolas.
Selena first appeared on Radio Disney on October 26, 2007.
Selena recorded the theme song to Wizards of Waverly Place and has sang a variety of songs while on Barney and Friends.
Selena is a huge Johnny Depp fan.
Selena has kissed Dylan Sprouse from the Suite Life of Zack and Cody.
She was in the movie, Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over as a waterpark girl.
Selena’s favorite subject is science
Great Selena Fansites
Selena Web
Miss Selena
Selena Source
More Selena Gomez content at Portrait:
Selena Wallpapers at Portrait Wallpapers
Selena Pictures at Portrait Pictures
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