Selena Gomez

Selena Gomez
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Selena Gomez |

Gomez at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival in September 2012 |
Background information |
Birth name | Selena Marie Gomez |
Born | July 22, 1992 (age 20)
Grand Prairie, Texas, U.S. |
Genres | Pop, dance, pop rock[1] |
Occupations | Actress, singer, fashion designer, host |Instruments | Vocals, piano, guitar, drums |
Years active | 2002–present |
Labels | Hollywood |
Associated acts | Selena Gomez & the Scene, Demi Lovato, Taylor Swift |
Website | SelenaGomez.com |
Selena Marie Gomez (born July 22, 1992)[2] is an American actress, singer and humanitarian, best known for portraying Alex Russo, the protagonist in the Emmy Award-winning television seriesWizards of Waverly Place. She subsequently ventured into feature films and has starred in the television movies Another Cinderella Story, Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie, and Princess Protection Program. She made her starring theatrical film debut in Ramona and Beezus.
Her career has expanded into the music industry; Gomez is the lead singer and founder of the pop band Selena Gomez & theScene, which has released three RIAA Gold certified studio albums, Kiss & Tell, A Year Without Rain, and When the Sun Goes Down, spawned three RIAA Platinum certified singles, "Naturally", "Who Says" and "Love You Like a Love Song" and charted four No. 1 Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs.[3] Gomez has also contributed to the soundtracks of Tinker Bell, Another Cinderella Story, Wizards ofWaverly Place, and Shake It Up after signing a record deal with Hollywood Records.
In 2008, Gomez was designated as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.[4]
Contents * 1 Biography * 1.1 1992–2008: Early life and career breakthrough * 1.2 2009–11:Theatrical film debut and Selena Gomez & the Scene * 1.3 2012: Focus on film * 2 Other ventures * 3 Philanthropy * 3.1 Work WithUNICEF * 4 Filmography * 5 Discography * 5.1 Soundtrack albums * 5.2 Singles * 5.3 Featured singles * 5.4 Promotional singles * 5.5 Music videos * 6 Awards and nominations * 7 References * 8 External links |
Biography
1992–2008: Early life and career breakthrough
Gomez was born in Grand Prairie, Texas.[2] She is the daughter of former stage actress Amanda Dawn"Mandy" Teefey (née Cornett) and Ricardo Joel Gomez.[5][6][7] Her father is of Mexican ancestry; her mother, who was adopted, is of part Italian descent.[8][9][10] Regarding her Hispanic heritage, Gomez has stated: "My family does have Quinceañeras, and we go to the communion church. We do everything that's Catholic, but we don't really have anything traditional except [that we] go to the park andhave barbecues on Sundays after church."[11] Her birth parents divorced when she was five years old, and she was raised as an only child by her working mother.[5][12] In 2006, Mandy remarried Brian Teefey.[13] She was named after Tejano singer Selena, who died almost three years after Gomez was born.[14] In a 2009 interview with People, Gomez mentioned that she developed an early interest in actingfrom watching her mother prepare for and act in theater productions.[12] She earned a high school diploma through homeschooling in May 2010.[15] Gomez began her acting career at age seven, playing Gianna on Barney & Friends.[16] She later had minor roles in Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over and the TV film Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial By Fire. Gomez also starred in the television movie Brain Zapped.Gomez on the studio set of Wizards of Waverly Place, 2007
In 2004, Gomez was discovered by the Disney Channel in a USA-wide scouting.[17] 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 seasons two to three. Gomez previously taped two different pilots that were spin-offs to two...