Selena Gomez reflects on her post-Disney role in Spring Breakers, calling it her most “challenging” experience and describing it as “such a wild detour” in her career.
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The Emilia Pérez actress looked back on her experience in the bold 2012 crime comedy.
Selena Gomez recently reflected on her role in the daring crime comedy Spring Breakers.
During an interview with Elle alongside her current Emilia Pérez co-stars Zoe Saldaña and Karla Sofía Gascón, Gomez described her part in Harmony Korine’s 2012 film as her “most challenging” role.
“I was only 18 or 19 at the time,” shared Gomez, now 32. “It was the first project I took on after my Disney show, and it was such a wild departure from anything I had done before.”
Spring Breakers had its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival in September 2012, just nine months after Selena Gomez’s Disney Channel sitcom, Wizards of Waverly Place, wrapped its four-season run. In the film, Gomez portrayed a devoutly religious “good girl” in contrast to her co-stars Ashley Benson, Vanessa Hudgens, and Rachel Korine, who played wild, party-loving characters. Despite her character’s moral stance, the R-rated film was a significant shift for Gomez, who had previously only acted in Disney projects and family-friendly films like Ramona and Beezus (2010).
Reflecting on the experience, Gomez shared how the project became a pivotal moment in her career. “That’s when I realized I was going to fall in love with filmmakers and gritty, edgy projects that pushed boundaries,” she told Elle.
In 2013, Gomez told The New York Times that Spring Breakers marked her “baby steps” toward more mature roles. “I know people will judge my involvement in the movie as a whole,” she said, adding, “I’m prepared to accept that.”
Earlier this year, Gomez shared with Variety that her mother, Mandy Teefey, 48, was a fan of Harmony Korine’s previous work and played a key role in helping her secure the part in Spring Breakers. Gomez reflected on the film, calling it “a project I’m proud of despite its uniqueness.”