Do you remember Selena Gomez from Barney & Friends? Wizards of Waverly Place? Know her for her successful music career? Her cooking show Selena + Chef? Or how about her most recently renowned role of Mabel in Only Murders in the Building? The fact that we have to ask says a lot about how vast her career is, but for the 32-year-old, life on the screen is something she’s known since she was a youngster. Here, read all about Selena Gomez’s acting career.
Selena Gomez on ‘Barney and Friends’
Gomez made her television debut as a kid in 2002 on Barney and Friends, an experience the actress still looks back fondly on. “It was amazing to be able to be 7 years old and experience that. It was wild,” she said in conversation with BBC Radio 1 back in 2018. She even went on to share that as a little one, she and co-star Demi Lovato had a crush on the man under the Barney suit!
Selena Gomez on ‘Wizards of Waverly Place’
Gomez brought to life the main character on this hit Disney Channel series from 2007 to 2012, and it’s this role in particular that made her a household name and certified teen sensation. The part showcased her acting chops, wit and comedic timing, and so beloved was the series that it earned a reboot this year.
“I felt like I was the happiest I had been my whole life, and I don’t want that to be a sad thought, because I’m really grateful and happy, but it was definitely the happiest times for me,” Gomez revealed to her Wizards co-stars on the Wizards of Waverly Pod podcast. “I recognize that obviously it’s because I have this different attention on me that I just didn’t have then, and that was a really pure time, and I miss that.”
Selena Gomez in ‘Ramona and Beezus’ (2010)
This heartfelt family film inspired by Ramona Forever by Beverly Cleary put Gomez at the forefront as older sister Beezus, uninterested in the antics of her younger sister. The beloved movie also starred Joey King, John Corbett, Ginnifer Goodwin and Josh Duhamel.
Selena Gomez in ‘Spring Breakers’ (2012)
Selena Gomez put her Disney Channel persona aside when she joined a cast including Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Benson as a college student who, with her friends, is arrested for robbing a diner in the hopes of funding their spring break trip.
“I’m so lucky because the people in my life have great taste, which has helped me learn and grow. It’s nice to have guidance from others who would be amazing to work with, whether in writing or production. My mom started it all by helping me get Spring Breakers, a project I’m proud of despite its uniqueness,” she recently told Variety.
Selena Gomez in ‘Only Murders in the Building’
Selena Gomez originated the role of Mabel on Only Murders in the Building in 2021, and since then, has earned herself a new demographic of fans as she acts alongside comedy greats Steve Martin and Martin Short. “I feel like I’ve been able to gradually become Mabel and to grow with her,” Gomez told Numéro. “She is a part of me now. I’m just enjoying the process.”
Selena Gomez in ‘Emilia Perez’ (2024)
Selena Gomez recently showed her skills off in Emilia Perez. The film tells the story of a Mexican cartel leader who enlists the help of a lawyer played by Zoe Saldana to fake her death and undergo gender affirming processes. Meanwhile, Gomez stars as the cartel leader’s wife in this musical thriller. We can’t wait to see what’s next for her!
