Selena Gomez in Monte Carlo
19-year-old Selena Gomez plays Grace AND Cordelia in the new movie Monte Carlo (rated PG).
Q: This movie is about having your dream come true. Her dream is to go to Paris. Was becoming a teenage idol part of your dream in your life? How was it to play two people in one movie?
Q: What was your favorite spot that you visited in Monte Carlo and why?
Selena: We got to stay at the actual hotel that you see in the movie which was really fancy pants.
Q: Could you tell me about the challenges and rewards of working in TV versus film?
Selena: For me I worked on a sitcom, so I had four cameras; we had an audience and my hours were maybe 10 hours a day. And I enjoyed that. It was actually easy and I was very comfortable. On film, we worked like night shoots at like six, worked 14 hour days, but the reward was having to be on this beautiful location and meet awesome people and work with good people. It was fun.
Q: What was your favorite scene in the movie?
Selena: My favorite scene in the movie would maybe be the end where I'm saying goodbye to Leighton [Meester] because our characters go up this huge arc, so it's really nice to see us bond at the end. And there's another scene that I like where I'm with Katie [Cassidy] in the bed and we're kind of talking about our feelings and kind of what we're going through, and I think it's really sweet and Katie does a great job.
Q: Could you talk about wearing the gorgeous clothes and the style, how much input you had, and say something about your own style?
Selena: Well that was all Tom. Tom Bezucha, who directed the film, wanted it to be really beautiful and not very bright, but just uplifting, and he did a very good job with it. Grace's wardrobe is very Texan and very simple but very pretty. Cordelia's was very intense. I mean she wore really amazing dresses and jackets and glasses and purses and earrings, and it was really fun to kind of create that whole vibe because she wasn't the kind of heiress that I thought she was going to be. She was very high-fashion. My personal clothes is just kind of simple and I like comfortable things.
Q: The movie is all about this like once in a lifetime adventure. In your own life, do you have one memorable summer adventure that you went on?
Selena: For me it would probably have to be this movie. I mean I was 17 when I shot the film and I got to live in Budapest for six weeks and go to Paris and Monte Carlo for two weeks and work with Katie and Leighton which was awesome. So for me that whole experience was really life-changing. I learned so much on this film. So I would say that was one of the best summers.
Q: The movie begins with a graduation scene. Could you talk about what your school experience was like, and if you have advice for kids about going back to school in the fall.
Selena: Oh man. I went to school up until eighth grade, so it was Middle School for me. I was not a very popular kid. I kind of sat in the back. I had like two friends and my cousin was the captain of the cheerleading team, so nobody picked on me because she was the most popular, so she was always very protective of me. My advice though is it's so hard to not give in to what all of the trends are and what people are saying. So hard to do that, but ultimately I'm so happy being. . . I would much rather be the oddball out than kind of create something of myself that I'm not proud of. I don't know if that's advice but I really hope that they stay who they are.
Can you believe that Justin Bieber's girlfriend was not popular in Middle School??? Think about THAT the next time you get picked on! And for more about the movie, Monte Carlo, check out the Scholastic News Kids press review.
Also don't miss our STACKS video of Selena talking about why she loves to read!
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Dat is great interview wit Selena Gomez.>
Comment #51 | Posted by: REDDANCE14 on July 25, 2011 at 03:10 PM
i wont justin bieber for my best friend
Comment #52 | Posted by: greenbutterfly65 on July 25, 2011 at 03:45 PM
i love you selena! you are my favorite actress!
posted by: vampireblood10
Comment #53 | Posted by: vampireblood10 on July 25, 2011 at 04:22 PM
i love you selena
Comment #54 | Posted by: yamarys on July 25, 2011 at 05:43 PM
i am totally your fan selena i wish i will be your sister
Comment #55 | Posted by: yamarys on July 25, 2011 at 05:45 PM
wow i think that monte carlo would be stupid but selena is so pretty im mad cause she's so prettyful but she look's like she would be a nice preson a really nice person but i think that her and justin shouldn't ever split like a banana split just kidding that look made for each other in a good way!lolz!
Comment #56 | Posted by: giniypoo on July 25, 2011 at 09:47 PM
hav selena nd justin ever broke up yet
Comment #57 | Posted by: frogs are cute on July 26, 2011 at 01:21 PM
this movie sounds really cool and am thrilled to watch this in theatres!Selena Gomez is such a good actress considering i watched her movies:princess protection program,wizarda of waverly place the movie,ramona and beezus and her show wizarda of waverly place! oh i cannot wait to watch monte carlo...tootles
Comment #58 | Posted by: xoxogossipgirl.. on July 26, 2011 at 01:40 PM
I'm crazy about Selena Gomez. She's awesome. I can't wait to see Monte Carlo!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment #59 | Posted by: Alexira on July 26, 2011 at 03:03 PM
I watched Monte Carlo! It was an awesome movie! That was a great interview.
Comment #60 | Posted by: flyingchihuahua11 on July 26, 2011 at 03:57 PM
hey selena whats up.
Comment #61 | Posted by: aioki on July 26, 2011 at 09:04 PM
monte carlo was a good movie but i wish i was with justin bieber
Comment #62 | Posted by: Jada on July 26, 2011 at 10:30 PM
i watched the movie. its awsome
Comment #63 | Posted by: aparna on July 27, 2011 at 12:20 AM
i love that movis
Comment #64 | Posted by: s on July 27, 2011 at 01:01 PM
OMG SELINA!!!
Comment #65 | Posted by: Ben on July 27, 2011 at 01:37 PM
omg selena gomez is so pretty and a gr8 actor and singer ive sen the comercial and it seems prettty cool so i cant wait 2 c it
Comment #66 | Posted by: Cameron on July 27, 2011 at 01:41 PM
i saw that movie with my friends it was so goood if u havent seen it u should go now :) :)
Comment #67 | Posted by: aquadawn39 on July 27, 2011 at 07:35 PM
i know i liked her accent it wwas funny
Comment #68 | Posted by: aquadawn39 on July 27, 2011 at 07:37 PM
selena gomez is preety though
Comment #69 | Posted by: aquadawn39 on July 27, 2011 at 07:38 PM
I wish I could meet her in real life.
Comment #70 | Posted by: AphroditeDawn3 on July 28, 2011 at 11:09 AM
selena gomez is awesome
Comment #71 | Posted by: catsapphire on July 28, 2011 at 01:49 PM
even though i haven't seen the movie it seems to turn out pretty awesome and crazy because selena has to be 2 characters
Comment #72 | Posted by: dragoncoffee1 on July 28, 2011 at 05:30 PM
pepole be my firend iam on stacks admins friend list
Comment #73 | Posted by: selean on July 28, 2011 at 06:39 PM
be my friend my user is scarletipod4 please thank you
Comment #74 | Posted by: scarletipod4 on July 28, 2011 at 07:27 PM
I relly wanna be on one of her shows :)
Comment #75 | Posted by: bluedog431 on July 28, 2011 at 07:34 PM