Selena Marie Gomez (born July 22, 1992) is an American actress and singer-songwriter best known for her portrayal of
Alex Russo on the
Emmy Award winning
Disney Channel Original Series,
Wizards of Waverly Place. She has starred in the television movies,
Another Cinderella Story and
Princess Protection Program. In 2010, Gomez made her theatrical film debut as
Beatrice "Beezus" Quimby in
Ramona and Beezus.
Before Disney, she had one of the kid roles on
Barney & Friends. In 2008, she signed a record deal with
Hollywood Records and contributed to the
Tinker Bell,
Another Cinderella Story and
Wizards of Waverly Place soundtracks. Her band,
Selena Gomez & the Scene, released their debut studio album
Kiss & Tell on September 29, 2009,
which was certified Gold by
RIAA on March 5, 2010.
. The album's single,
Naturally, was certified Platinum by RIAA on July 15, 2010.
Gomez began her acting career at age seven, playing Gianna on
Barney & Friends. She said that she learned "everything" about how to act while on the show. Season 7 of
Barney & Friends, when Selena Gomez was on the show, was held up for some time. Because of this, the episodes featuring Gomez did not air until she was in 5th grade. This resulted in some mild controversy/confusion as to whether she was on Barney in the 5th grade or the 1st grade.
She later had minor roles in
Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over and the TV film
Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial By Fire. In 2004, Gomez was discovered by the
Disney Channel in a nation wide scouting.
Gomez appeared as a guest star on
The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and had a guest appearance – that later turned into a recurring role – on
Hannah Montana from season's two to three. In early 2007 Gomez was cast in the Disney Channel series
Wizards of Waverly Place as one of the three main characters,
Alex Russo.
In 2008, Gomez appeared in
Another Cinderella Story, the direct-to-DVD sequel to the
2004 Hilary Duff film, opposite
Drew Seeley. She also had a minor voiceover role as one the Mayor's ninety-six daughters in
Horton Hears a Who! which released in March of that year. In April, Lacey Rose, of
Forbes ranked Gomez as being fifth on their "Eight Hot Kid Stars To Watch" list; and Rose described Gomez as having been "a multitalented teen".
In June, 2009, Gomez appeared in the made-for-television Disney Channel movie,
Princess Protection Program with her then best friend
Demi Lovato.
On August 28, one month after appearing in
Princess Protection Program, Gomez appeared in
Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie, a made-for-television film based on the show.
In 2009, Gomez did a guest appearance as herself in one episode, of Lovato's
Disney Channel television show
Sonny With a Chance, entitled "Battle of The Network Stars". Gomez, along with two cast members of
Wizards of Waverly Place appeared in a television three-way cross-over episode with
Hannah Montana and
The Suite Life on Deck, entitled
Wizards on Deck with Hannah Montana. In February 2009, Gomez signed on to star as one of the two female leads in
Ramona and Beezus, a film adaption of
the children's novel series by
Beverly Cleary. In March, 2010,
Variety reported that Gomez was set to star as one of the three lead roles in
Monte Carlo.
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