Selena Gomez Shares About Her ‘Naive’ Decision to Join Spring Breakers and How Her Mom Was Always There for Her

Selena Gomez, the Hollywood superstar, is not only known for her acting talent but also for her success in music. However, her career journey hasn’t always been easy. One of the pivotal decisions in her career was joining the movie Spring Breakers (2012), a film that was challenging and quite different from her previous roles, especially when she was still a Disney star.

From Disney to a Mature Role

Selena Gomez rose to fame as a Disney star with her role as Alex Russo in the TV series Wizards of Waverly Place. This was one of Disney Channel’s most popular shows, helping Selena gain immense success and a massive fan base among younger audiences. However, after over 100 episodes and a few Disney movies, Selena felt it was time to challenge herself with more mature roles.

In 2012, Selena made the bold decision to join Spring Breakers, an R-rated movie directed by Harmony Korine, where she starred alongside Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Benson. The film tells the story of a group of young girls who get involved in a wild spring break, full of risk and chaos. This was a bold step for Selena, as it marked her transition from a Disney star to a more adult, edgy role.

A ‘Naive’ Decision But Full of Confidence

Recently, in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Selena reflected on her decision to join Spring Breakers and how she felt “naive” about what she was about to experience. She shared: “When I did Spring Breakers, I felt like it was the right choice. I had done over 100 episodes of Wizards, along with a couple of movies, and when I met Harmony Korine, I knew this was a great opportunity. He’s such an interesting filmmaker, and I wanted to try something different.”

Despite the concerns about moving from a Disney star to an R-rated movie, Selena says she never felt scared or worried. She explained: “I just thought it was time to try something new, things I hadn’t done before. My mom was always supportive of my decision, and I feel lucky to have her by my side.”

Strong Support from Her Mom

One thing Selena always values in her career is the unwavering support from her mom, Mandy Teefey. Her mother has always been there to guide and offer advice, especially when Selena had to make important decisions in her career. Selena shared: “My mom was always there during the audition process, and that was wonderful. Harmony Korine was also very considerate, having his family around, which created a safe environment for an 18-year-old girl.”

Selena mentioned that her mom was the one person she trusted most when making tough decisions. “My mom is the first person I go to when I have a major decision to make, and I know no matter what, she always has my back,” Selena shared.

Tough Times and Valuable Lessons

However, not everything went smoothly in Selena’s film journey. When Spring Breakers was released, Selena received mixed reactions, especially from her old Disney fans who were used to her sweet and innocent image. Selena recalled: “When the movie came out, I told Vanessa that my Disney fans wouldn’t be able to watch this because it was too different. I remember Vanessa just saying ‘Oh, okay,’ and I realized how naive I was back then.”

Selena learned that she needed to mature and accept that not everyone would understand or support the change. However, she took those challenges as valuable lessons that helped her grow stronger. She said: “I’m proud of that decision because it opened my eyes to new perspectives and I learned so much from the experience.”

The Years After Spring Breakers

After Spring Breakers, Selena continued to develop her career with more films, including The Dead Don’t Die, and released her solo music, achieving major success with hits like Bad Liar and Come & Get It. She has also remained an advocate for mental health and self-love, sharing positive messages with her followers on social media.

Despite her many accomplishments, Selena remains grateful for the significant turning points in her career, including the decision to join Spring Breakers. She understands that challenges, though tough, are valuable lessons that help her grow both in her career and personal life.