Selena Gomez is embracing a new chapter in her career as she shifts focus to acting, opening up about her evolving artistic journey during a candid conversation with actress Saoirse Ronan for Variety’s “Actors on Actors” series.
In the conversation, Ronan, who is known for her roles in Blitz and The Outrun, praised Gomez for her musical talents, particularly highlighting a raw and powerful solo performance in Emilia Pérez. Ronan described the moment as “dirty and sexy and raw,” showcasing the depth of Gomez’s musicianship. However, Gomez, who has built a successful career in both music and acting, clarified that while her music is an important part of her life, she views it as separate from her acting endeavors.
“I love storytelling, and my music career is separate,” Gomez said. “However, I don’t see that being a forever thing.” Despite her acknowledgment of music’s influence on her life, she hinted that acting might take precedence as she continues to explore new opportunities. “I’ll always have music in my life,” she added, noting that her boyfriend, Benny Blanco, is an award-winning producer and musician who also keeps music close to her heart. “I love having moments to do it for fun. It can be a little vulnerable when you’re putting yourself out there versus escaping into a character,” she reflected.
As the conversation turned to her strengths, Gomez revealed that acting is where she feels most confident. “My strong suit is probably acting,” she said. She also shared her admiration for the art of storytelling through music, noting that her favorite songs are ballads that are “transparent and honest,” qualities she strives for in her work as both a singer and an actress.
Gomez, who rose to fame in the early 2000s as a Disney Channel star, has recently been shifting her focus from her pop music career to acting. “I think I’ve done just as much as I wanted to do in music, but it’s exciting because I feel like I haven’t even started in film and TV,” she said in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter. “I’m almost done with my pop star career,” she admitted, but emphasized that music is not entirely out of the picture. “Music isn’t going away. I just set it down for a second,” she added.
This shift in focus is reflected in Gomez’s current work. She has not released a full-length album since Rare in 2020, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and produced her first-ever No. 1 hit, “Lose You to Love Me.” While she did release a Spanish-language EP, Revelación, in 2021 and a couple of singles since then, including “Love On” earlier this year, Gomez has made it clear that acting is her current priority.
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Her role in Emilia Pérez, which sees her playing a complex and dynamic character, marks one of her most significant acting projects to date. Gomez’s work on the show has earned critical praise, showcasing her versatility as an actress in ways that her previous roles, particularly in Only Murders in the Building, have only hinted at. The success of Only Murders in the Building, a Hulu series in which Gomez stars alongside Steve Martin and Martin Short, has helped solidify her position as a serious actress, earning her multiple award nominations and a loyal fanbase.
In her conversation with Ronan, Gomez reflected on the idea of age and career evolution, saying she might be “a little too old for the pop star life.” However, she expressed contentment in being at the start of a new phase. “I’m genuinely so happy to just be in this new era of my life, because in a lot of ways, it’s just the beginning,” she said.
While Gomez’s musical career may have slowed down, her acting career is clearly taking off. Fans can expect to see more of her in upcoming projects as she continues to explore new creative avenues. With her eyes firmly set on the future, Gomez remains committed to honing her craft, whether through music or on screen.
Gomez’s honesty about her career shift and her focus on acting signals an exciting next step in her career. As she continues to evolve as an artist, fans are eager to see what new roles and creative endeavors the multi-hyphenate star will take on next.
