Selena Gomez on the Princess Protection Program

Tomorrow (June 26th) is the premiere of Princess Protection Program on the Disney Channel! Here's the scoop:

Princess Rosalinda is about to become the Queen of Costa Luna when her country was invaded by an evil dictator. In order to protect her, she is placed in the Princess Protection Program to keep her identity hidden. Now known as Rosie, she moves in with Carter's family in rural Louisiana. Carter teaches Rosie how to act like a normal American teenager, and Rosie teaches Carter how to be a princess.

Did you know that Rosie and Carter are friends in real life though? Yep, you may recognize these famous BFFs — Demi Lovato (Sunny with a Chance) slips into Rosalinda's royal slippers, and Carter's sneakers are filled by Selena Gomez (Wizards of Waverly Place). Read our exclusive interview with Selena and see what it's like to be best friends with your co-star — plus some inside dish on her upcoming album and how she deals with all the craziness that comes with fame!

Was it fun working with Demi on Princess Protection Program? Were there any pros and cons of working with a really good friend?
Selena: I really don't think I could find anything that was wrong with working with Demi. We've known each other for almost 10 years now, so there isn't really anything we can surprise each other with. It is kind of odd trying to pretend like I don’t know who this person is in the movie, in the beginning, so that was fun. Being able to work with someone you're comfortable with is always nice because it’s not the awkward, "Hi, nice to meet you. We have to pretend to be best friends." So all the stuff that's genuine in the movie is actual.

Does the friendship in the movie mirror real life?
Selena: Yeah, I think the parts where we're laughing and being goofballs is absolutely one hundred percent us. Half the time, they’d keep the cameras rolling because we’d keep going and going and sit there and talk and laugh until we couldn’t breathe anymore. It was pretty much all genuine.

In terms of the casting, are you similar to Carter and was Demi similar to Rosalinda?
Selena: Yes. Demi grew up in pageants, so back home in Texas, she was always poised and grew up that way. And I was a tomboy growing up. So it was back to our childhoods just for a little bit while we were shooting the movie.

How did you guys first meet?
Selena: In line, auditioning for Barney. We were in line with 1,400 kids, and she asked me to color with her, and I sat down on the ground and colored with her. We ended up booking the series together. Ten years later, we're working for the same network, and we're getting to grow and go through all of this together.

Has your friendship with Demi ever been tested?

Selena: Of course. I think it's important to go through those times where it is truly tested. This business is one of the biggest tests that we go through. Being in different countries half the time with touring and being on different shows and not being able to see each other can get really frustrating. But the one thing that I do admire about our friendship is, even if we're separated for two years straight, we can't forget our friendship and we can't forget what it means to us, so I think distance does make the heart grow fonder.

How do you guys keep in touch when you're separated?
Selena: iChat, texting, call each other, Twitter, all of it. All the communication devices.

In Princess Protection Plan you guys performed the song "One and the Same." Would you like to sing with her again?
Selena: Yes, absolutely. We do hope to do that more in the future. I loved working with her. I mean, shooting a music video with your best friend is kind of crazy, but it's fun.

Which scene in the movie did you like the best?
Selena: My favorite scene has to be the scene in the movie where Demi and I finally are friends in the movie, because it was really fun to shoot. After we'd sat there and shot all the scenes where we don't like each other, it was refreshing to just be friends like we normally are.

And the hardest scene?
Selena: Acting like I didn't know her. There's a scene where we first meet, and it's very weird and awkward because I'm not supposed to have any idea who this girl is and I've known her for 10 years, so that was a little weird.

Any funny stories?
Selena: No. Me and Demi would get really bored sometimes and throw food, but only at each other. (laughs) We cleaned it up after we were done, I promise.

What kind of things do you guys like to do when you're just being yourselves and off the set?
Selena: I think that we like to just be normal 16-year-olds, because we can't be every day. We're obviously working. So it's nice to be able to go to her house, listen to music, do each other's hair and make-up, and talk about boys and gossip. That's what normal 16-year-olds do, and that's when that inner 16-year-old comes out. 

What music do you listen to now?
Selena: I like Kelly Clarkson's new record. I'm listening to Jason Mraz and Demi's new record — it hasn't come out yet, but I've heard it. It's amazing.

What about you and records?
Selena: My first CD comes out . . . we're aiming for September. I'm excited. I wanted to make sure my music was fun and energetic. I didn't want it to be too serious, because I'm not Christina Aguilera and have no intention to be. I think I just wanted to make sure it was fun.

Are you writing any of the songs?
Selena: No, I don't think I'm going to have any on my first album because like I said, it's my first record and I want it to be good.

How do you and Demi support each other if one of you is down?
Selena: We have a lot of inside jokes. Whenever we're kind of stressed about everything going on in the business now, with rumors or with people hurting us or doing things like that, I say, "Hey, remember when we were, like, 12 at your house in Texas and we were barbecuing . . . " And then we remember the good times. It's nice to say, "Remember when . . . " just to know that we have each other.

Are you surprised by the negativity that goes on?
Selena: Yes, of course. I'm 16 years old, and I'm being told some of the most horrible things that I've ever heard. It's not normal. I do think it's kind of disturbing. It's part of the territory, though.

And your response to that is to ignore it?
Selena: I don't read it anymore. It affects me too much. I am human. I'm not going to say it doesn't. And I don't read it anymore.

Smart. What would Demi say that she likes best about you?
Selena: That I don't judge her. I feel like sometimes she gets afraid that people don't like her if she wears too much eyeliner or she likes to listen to rock music, and I think she gets a little nervous because she doesn't ever want people to not like her. I never judge anything she does. I always support her.

And what do you like best about her?
Selena: I like that she's honest. I like that she can tell me anything, whether it's an outfit she absolutely hates or it's something about my music.

Any obstacles you've had to overcome in your career?
Selena: Yes. The Disney Channel flew me out when I was 12, and I had to audition in a huge room with probably 15 executives staring at a 12-year-old asking her to sing and perform in front of them. I was very shy. I believe that kind of damaged me a little bit because I was shy, and only one person believed in me out of those 15 people. Once I realized this is what I want to do and I love what I do so much and I should just focus on that, my passion, and I shouldn't focus on all these people wearing fancy suits — I overcame that and I ended up booking my own series. So I'm very, very happy. 

What do you think are the reasons for how you overcame that?
Selena: My mom helped me overcome that. I think you should ask your mom for stories that maybe she went through when she was your age. I think that helped me because I always say, “Okay, remember when my mom said she did this? And look where she is now — she's happy and she's working.”

You're very close to your mom, right?
Selena: Very, yes.

What literary character would you like to portray in a movie?
Selena: Oh, wow, that's a hard one. I don't know. As an actress, I love being challenged. Working for the same network, I tend to be very comfortable where I am. So I'm free to play a character this way or that way. And when I take that away, it's kind of scary. So I don't think there's a specific character I want to play — just something that gives me a new challenge.

What books would you recommend to a friend?
Selena: Ramona! [Editor's Note: Selena plays Beezus in the upcoming film adaptation of Beverly Cleary's book Beezus and Ramona — sadly, not due in theaters until March 2010!]

So there you have it! Let me know if you will be watching the premiere of Princess Protection Program tomorrow!

— Alyssa, STACKS Intern

Interview conducted by Marie Morreale

Photo of Demi and Selena in party dresses © ROMAN FRANCISCO / American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. (Disney Channel)
Photo of Demi and Selena on the dock © BOB D'AMICO / American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. (Disney Channel)

Comments

[Comment #1]

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo my l come not blevit

[Comment #2]

Selena Gomez is one of my role models! She's a really great person. I can't wait to see all of her new movies and hear her new CD!!!

[Comment #3]

I am deffinetly going to watch it! =D

[Comment #4]

You are my best character. to:selena.

[Comment #5]

I think Selena Gomez is a really good actress!

[Comment #6]

Selena is soooo awesome!

[Comment #7]

I LOVED THE MOVE!SOME DAY I HOPE 2 B ON DISNEY CHANNEL BECAUSE I AM A GREAT SINGER AND I WOULD LOVE 2 B IN A DISNEY SHOW!I AM A BIG FAN OF SELENA GOMEZ AND DEMI LOVATO! =D

[Comment #8]

hi my brother hates the movie protection program

[Comment #9]

Selena is so awesome she always has pretty her and she has a wonderful name!Her full name is Selena Marie Gomez.=D

Demetria is also pretty!=D

[Comment #10]

Selena Gomez is awesome!!! I love her character Carter in PPP!!!!! You are awesome!!! Thanks for writing this artical!!!

[Comment #11]

selena is so cool!i wish i could meet her someday!

[Comment #12]

o.m.g selina and demi my two favorite actress i wish to meet you guys someday but what will be great is a phone call

[Comment #13]

I LOVEEE SELENA! i also think she is really talented. she's the only actress on disney that doesn't make me cringe

[Comment #14]

i love selena and i loved the movie

[Comment #15]

omg!i bet that mOVIE IS AWSOME i JUST LOVE SAElENA GOMEZ AND DEMI LOVATO

[Comment #16]

i <3 Slena,she is one of my favorite actresses!!!And my role model!!!

[Comment #17]

i love you SELENA GOLMESZ

[Comment #18]

i love SELENA she is so awsome she is one of the best atresses ive ever known. from savannaha

[Comment #19]

your music is the best music i have heard.

[Comment #20]

hey selena gomez

[Comment #21]

omg saelena gomez

[Comment #22]

love that monie do U

[Comment #23]

i love u selene and i hope u are alwes happe!

[Comment #24]

I like both girls :)

[Comment #25]

slene gomez is so cool i want to be just like her slene ur a big romodel to me,