On every red carpet, Selena Gomez is the epitome of beauty, poise and confidence. But she will be the first to tell you that things are not always what they seem. For example, her latest film: ‘Emilia Pérez.’ Gomez plays the role of the wife of a powerful Mexican drug lord who secretly transitions. The film is a hard-hitting true crime story, a gripping love story, a journey of self-discovery – and a musical. But somehow it all works.
To watch a trailer for “Emilia Pérez”, click on the video player below:
Gomez said the shooting left her “a little sore” from all the dance numbers. So why did she want to do it? “I found it incredibly compelling,” she said. “I’ve never seen a movie like this. I don’t think I’ve ever been so proud of anything in acting.”
And that really says something; At 32, Gomez has a lot to be proud of: she’s an accomplished actor, but she’s also a very successful singer-songwriter, and thanks to her wildly popular Rare Beauty cosmetics line, she’s a billionaire and a very active philanthropist. It’s all quite impressive, and even more so when you realize where she started.
Gomez was born in the city of Grand Prairie, Texas. Her mother, Mandy Teefy, was only 16 years old. Selena’s parents separated when she was five. She says the family had a lot of love, and not much else, during hard times when her mother struggled to put food on the table. “My mother worked multiple jobs,” she says. “She was also graduating high school when she had me. Doing something great today only makes me more grateful for the lessons my mom taught me.”
Gomez was just 10 when she landed a role on the TV series “Barney & Friends,” and a few years later she became a regular on the Disney Channel, on shows like “Wizards of Waverly Place.”
She branched out into music and became a pop sensation. And when the pandemic hit, she shifted gears again and hosted “Selena + Chef,” a popular online cooking show that was shot in the kitchen of her LA home. “We had cameras everywhere, every aspect of it,” she said.
And how are her cooking skills now? “They’re not that great, I’m not going to lie!” she laughed.
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And then in 2021, she helped cook one of TV’s biggest hits: “Only Murders in the Building.” She praised her co-stars, Steve Martin and Martin Short: “These guys, Steve and Martin, have been working longer than I’ve been alive, but they’re the first ones to show up on set. They take the time to ask everyone to find out how their day is And besides, they think about everything. They’re great people, and they’ve helped me grow up in many ways. These guys have become my friends and allies and people I couldn’t be more grateful for are to work with them.”
Gomez is the first to admit that she’s had a magical life, and that it wasn’t always a bed of roses. She has been open about her health issues, including lupus and a kidney transplant.
She also decided to go public with her struggles with anxiety and depression, and her bipolar diagnosis. Her 2022 documentary, “Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me,” is an unvarnished look at her life – the highs and the very lows.
She admits she was a little nervous about sharing it with the world, but “once I released it, it felt like a huge relief, because I firmly believe that being vulnerable is one of the strongest things that you can do. That doesn’t mean you have to pour your heart out to everyone. But I made that choice because I knew I wasn’t the only one who felt that way. And if my world was already there for everyone to see, I would I would like to tell my part of the story and do something about it Add that, it’s a dream what I do.”
Part of her dream was a benefit held last month for her Rare Impact Fund, a charity aimed at helping young people suffering from the same mental health issues she does. “This is probably the most important thing to me, besides my family,” she said. “This is the icing on the cake of everything.”
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Another highlight is her relationship with music producer Benny Blanco, who was named one of the sexiest men in the world by People Magazine. “Yes, that’s my husband!” Gomes said. “To know that there is someone in the world who cares deeply about every little detail of who I am, I feel really, really lucky.”
“Emilia Pérez” clearly shows that she is an artist who likes to take risks. But Selena Gomez’s most courageous move is sharing her true self, and that has made all the difference.
I asked, “The response overall has been overwhelmingly positive, hasn’t it?”
‘Sure. Maybe,” Gomez replied.
Maybe? “It’s not like I really need anyone’s approval,” she added. “I think I’m just really good with where I am and who I am. And I’m happy. I’m happy to finally be there.”
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Story produced by John D’Amelio. Editor: Steven Tyler.
