Selena Gomez Early Life and Background:
Born in Grand Prairie, Texas, on July 22, 1992, Selena Gomez is an American actress and singer who initially captured the hearts of many young fans as the endearing star of the Disney television series Wizards of Waverly Place (2007–12) and as a pop singer. She later moved into more adult roles, most famously as Mabel Mora in the television series Only Murders in the Building (2021–). Gomez also started Rare Beauty, a cosmetics brand, in 2020.
Childhood and First Acting Roles:
Selena Gomez was raised on the suburbs of Dallas and was named after the well-known Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla-Pérez. Gomez tried out for a part in the children’s television program Barney & Friends on PBS after being inspired by her mother, an amateur actor. She consequently made frequent appearances on the program between 2002 and 2004. She tried out for the Disney Channel after making her big-screen debut in the family movie Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003), which resulted in a cameo in The Suite Life of Zack and Cody.
Breakthrough with Disney Channel:
Selena Gomez was chosen to play Alex Russo in Wizards of Waverly Place, a new comedic series from Disney, in 2007. Alex was a self-assured, playful girl with magical abilities. Gomez also sang the show’s theme song, which quickly gained popularity among younger audiences. She was sometimes likened to Miley Cyrus, another well-known Disney star.
Transition to Film and Mature Roles:
Selena Gomez continued to work on Wizards of Waverly Place while making appearances in a number of kid-friendly TV shows and videos. She also provided the voice of Horton Hears a Who! (2008), an animated film. Later, she was cast in a major role in the 2010 film Ramona and Beezus, which was based on a children’s book by Beverly Cleary. Additionally, she starred in the 2011 romantic comedy Monte Carlo. Gomez abandoned her “family-friendly” persona in the 2012 movie Spring Breakers, where she portrayed a college student looking for excitement in Florida.
Continued Acting Career and Voice Work:
She later made appearances as a sorority sister in Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (2016) and as the girlfriend of a college student who perishes in a campus shooting in the drama Rudderless (2014). Additionally, Gomez provided voice acting for roles in Dolittle (2020), Hotel Transylvania (2012), and its sequels (2015, 2018, 2022). She starred in Woody Allen’s A Rainy Day in New York and Jim Jarmusch’s horror movie The Dead Don’t Die in 2019.
Return to Television and Recent Work:
Gomez made a comeback to television in the popular series Only Murders in the Building (2021–), where she co-starred with Martin Short and Steve Martin as a special trio that solved crimes. She starred in Jacques Audiard’s musical drama Emilia Pérez in 2024, which took home the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Gomez portrays a Mexican drug lord’s wife who had gender-affirming surgery (played by Karla Sofía Gascón).
Music Career and Achievements:
Gomez made her musical debut as the main vocalist of Selena Gomez & the Scene, a pop group with an electronic edge that created a number of dance singles. The trio put out albums including Kiss & Tell (2009), A Year Without Rain (2010), and When the Sun Goes Down (2011) before splitting up in 2012. The catchy tune “Come & Get It” from Stars Dance (2013) marked the beginning of her solo career. Revival (2015) and Rare (2020), the latter of which included the popular song “Lose You to Love Me,” are two of her subsequent solo albums.
Personal Life and Relationships:
Gomez’s romantic engagement with pop artist Justin Bieber, which lasted intermittently between 2010 and 2018, garnered her even more public exposure as she matured into maturity. She also received extensive tabloid coverage in 2017 due to her brief romance with artist The Weeknd. Gomez wed songwriter and music producer Benny Blanco in 2025. She is also well-known for her charitable endeavors, many of which she carried out through UNICEF, which in 2009 designated her as a Goodwill Ambassador.
Health Struggles and Advocacy:
Gomez disclosed her lupus diagnosis in 2015. In 2017, she had a kidney transplant because of the illness’s consequences. She also talked candidly about her battles with anxiety and sadness throughout this time, and in 2020 she revealed that she had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. In the 2022 documentary Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me, Selena Gomez discussed her mental health and the challenges of being well-known.
Business Ventures and Net Worth:
Gomez established her cosmetics brand, Rare Beauty, in 2020. Her personal net worth was estimated to be more than $1 billion, and four years later it was assessed at almost $2 billion.