CAREER CHANGER
Starlet Selena Gomez hints at quitting music for acting
SPOSTMEDIA NEWS elena Gomez, 21, is a celebrity who got her start on Barney & Friends and Wizards of Waverly Place and now attracts paparazzi wherever she goes. The singer and actress — Gomez appeared with James Franco in Harmony Korine’s controversial Spring Breakers — is the on-again, off-again main squeeze of Justin Bieber, whose name was off-limits during our recent interview. In Toronto to promote Stars Dance, an album she claims could be her last as she devotes her attention to movies, Gomez spoke about pressure, perseverance and the desire to update her image while millions of tween fans might want her to remain forever 12.
With Spring Breakers and your latest record, you’re obviously going through a period of transition, but my question is: OK, of course you have advisers, but in your heart, how do you follow the decisions you choose?
It is a transition period for me, of course. I never know if it’s the right choice I’m making. It’s always weird going from one place to another. I’m 20 (at interview time) and still figuring out me.
Most 20 year olds are probably still deciding their majors.
Yeah, everyone has to kind of go through that, so this is an important record for me. Spring Breakers was an important time in my life, as well. It’s all about baby steps and trying to figure out how to slowly, elegantly become an adult.
That’s well put.
Thank you. I’m trying to think about what it’s like to be you. You want to follow your artistic muse, but there are 10 year olds with cameras outside and your security guy at the door is built like a tank.
I take my fans into consideration. Obviously I started on the (Disney) channel so my fan base started off younger. I think they’re beautiful and amazing, but there comes a point where, artistically, you get blocked.
Do you think the shows keep you from being considered a serious artist?
I loved my show, I went back to my show, but you start feeling like there’s not really any room to grow. I felt like making Harmony’s movie so, knowing that he had a new script coming out, I flew straight to Nashville to his house, in his living room.
You could’ve gone to Steven Spielberg’s house.
Yes and no, but here’s the thing about Harmony: he was willing to give me the opportunity to prove myself — just for me. He didn’t necessarily want me to prove it to other people. I don’t think other directors would give me the time of day. Really? Don’t you think you could automatically improve their opening weekends?
I don’t know, but because of where I come from I wanted to go to Harmony. I knew he would be the bold director who would take that chance with me, and he did, and in my eyes I’ll be forever grateful. It’s one of the weirdest movies I’ve ever seen.
It was a great learning experience and the opportunity to work with James, who created this insane character I didn’t even recognize — he was just so brilliant, artistically and creatively. As an artist, that’s where I needed to be. But when you have your own perfume, it must be hard to push yourself as an artist.
Again, I’m 20. I have my moments of insecurity and figuring out what’s going on and what I’m supposed to do, but if you don’t push yourself, you’re not growing, so where do you go? There was certain points shooting Spring Breakers where I wasn’t uncomfortable at all and that let me be free. It allowed me to play with what I love, so that’s what I wanted to do with my music. Do you have any mentors, people who’ve taken the right path?
I think Shia LaBeouf did a wonderful job. He started on Disney, and he’s an incredible actor and he chose great roles.
Shia LaBeouf?
I think he did a wonderful job. So is this really your last record?
I’m young, so I don’t want to be, like, “It’s done forever,” because you never know, but I never had the opportunity to take two or three years for my movies. Obviously I can change my mind, but I think this is the last one for a while. Before meeting you, I was told 18 times what I can and can’t ask you, and I take it the security guard at the door isn’t just for effect. Last question: If you knew when you were auditioning for Barney what your life would be like, would you still show up that day?
(Pause) Yes. There are certain parts of it that can be a little different than it was when my mom was acting that can be frustrating, but other than that, I genuinely love what I do. It’s worth it, worth all the stuff I have to deal with, to be able to do what I want.