Selena Gomez admitted that she doesn’t see music as “a forever thing” and might be getting “a little too old for the pop star life” while chatting with Saoirse Ronan for Variety’s “Actors on Actors” series.
“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,” said Gomez, who released her last full-length album, Rare, in 2020 (followed by her 2021 Spanish-language EP, Revelación).
Gomez has dabbled in acting and music throughout her career, and her turn in Jacques Audiard Emilia Pérez — an audacious musical about trans cartel boss — finds her utilizing both skill sets. In the interview, Ronan praised her big solo performance (likely referring to “Mi Camino”), calling it, “so dirty and sexy and raw.”
Gomez replied, “That means a lot to me. I love storytelling, and my music career is separate. However, I don’t see that being a forever thing.”
She went on to qualify that she’ll “always have music in my life,” partly because her partner (producer Benny Blanco) is a musician. “And I love having moments to do it for fun,” she added. “It can be a little vulnerable when you’re putting yourself out there versus escaping into a character.”
Gomez said she thinks acting is her “strong suit,” suggesting that’s where her primary focus will lie as her career progresses. But she did celebrate the overlap between the two artistic disciplines, saying, “One thing I’m proud of in music is being able to tell a story — my favorite songs are mostly ballads, and they’re very transparent and honest.”
Gomez has earned rave reviews for her performance in Emilia Pérez, picking up a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress alongside her co-star Zoe Saldaña. The film’s third lead, Karla Sofía Gascón, was nominated for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.
Emilia Pérez earned 10 total Golden Globe nods — the most ever for a musical or comedy film in the show’s history — including Best Picture, and Best Director and Screenplay for Audiard. The film’s musical team, Clément Ducol and Camille, also scored a Best Original Score look, plus Best Original Song nods for “El Mal” and “Mi Camino.”
