Selena Gomez Biography

From LoveToKnow Celebrity

The Selena Gomez biography highlights the career of an up and coming actress and singer, popular with the tween set. Gomez has appeared in many Disney series' and television movies, and is quickly gaining a large fan following.

Selena Gomez.

Early Selena Gomez Biography

Selena Gomez
Born As:	Selena Marie Gomez
Birthdate:	July 22, 1992
Best Known As:	Actor, Singer
Website:	SelenaGomez.com

Selena Marie Gomez was born on July 22, 1992, in Grand Prairie, Texas. She is the only child of Mandy Teefy, a former actress, and Ricardo Gomez. She is named after the late Mexican-American singer Selena, who was murdered at the young age of 23.

Gomez's acting career began when she was seven years old and landed a recurring role on the children's show Barney and Friends. It was during the auditions for this show, which were held on her birthday, that she met her current best friend, fellow actress and singer Demi Lovato, who was cast as a regular on the program. While the two would cross paths again professionally, the Selena Gomez biography takes many different turns.

Acting Roles

Her appearance on Barney and Friends led to several guest parts, including small roles in:

The Suite Life of Zack and Cody
Hannah Montana
Disney Channel Games

She was also tapped to appear in commercials for products such as:

Hasbro
T.G.I. Fridays
Wal-Mart

Gomez has gone on to make appearances on the following shows:

Sonny With a Chance
Jonas Brothers: Living the Dream
Disney Channel Games

In addition, she was the host of the Disney Channel's Totally New Year 2008, and an episode of Studio DC: Almost Live.

Wizards of Waverly Place

Once Disney discovered Selena Gomez, she began to be offered much more regular work. She is currently the star of Wizards of Waverly Place, which airs on the Disney Channel.

Her character, Alex Russo, is one of three siblings who have magical powers. Her father in the series is a former wizard, who explains to them that only one of the siblings will be able to keep their powers when they reach adulthood, chosen by way of a contest.

Wizards of Waverly Place debuted in 2007, and has been renewed for further seasons. A line of products based on the show, including video games and character dolls, is being planned.

Film Work

Gomez has appeared in a handful of films, gaining traction from cameo parts to lead roles. Her cameo roles include the movies Walker Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire, in which she played Julie, and Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over, in which she had a tiny role as the "water park girl."

In 2006, Gomez achieved leading lady status with the film Brain Zapped. The plot of this made for TV movie revolves around strange occurrences at the local library, where books are seemingly coming to life.

Selena Gomez also voiced the character of the mayor's daughter, Helga, in the Dr. Seuss movie Horton Hears a Who. She appeared in the sequel Another Cinderella Story, as well as the upcoming Princess Protection Program with Demi Lovato.

A movie based on the Wizards of Waverly Place series is in the works, with Gomez playing her character Alex Russo.

She is currently working on the movie Beezus and Ramona, in which she plays Beatrice (Beezus) Quimby, the popular character from the Ramona and Henry Huggins books by author Beverly Cleary. Beezus and Ramona is scheduled to be released in 2010.

Music

While Selena Gomez doesn't yet write her own songs, she is a talented singer with a lilting voice. She can sing many different styles of music, from slow ballads to more upbeat pop.

Gomez has contributed songs to the soundtracks of many of the films and television series she has worked on, as well as Disney compilations, including: