Selena Gomez Says 'It Will Be Very Hard for Me to Ever Go Back to Music' AfterEmilia PérezExperience

Mar. 15, 2025

Selena Gomez on Feb. 9, 2025.Photo:Robin L Marshall/WireImage

Robin L Marshall/WireImage

After makingEmilia Pérez,Selena Gomezhas her sights set on acting.

Gomez, 32, shared during a moderated conversation with Dave Karger at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in Santa Barbara, California on Sunday, Feb. 9 that she is “ready to just focus on” acting for films and television after her experience starring in theJacques Audiard-directed movie musical that has turned into a major awards season hit.

“I think film and art-making and being around such incredible, talented people that have done nothing but uplift me along the way… I don’t know,” Gomez shared. “It’s going to be very hard for me to ever go back to music after this.”

Gomez appeared in a movie for the first time since her voice role in 2022’sHotel Transylvania 4withEmilia Pérez, a French-produced, Spanish-language musical in which she costars withZoe SaldañaandKarla Sofía Gascón. While the film’s awards campaign has been marred withcontroversy over Gascón’s old social media postsin recent weeks, Saldaña, 46, has won awards for her performance at theGolden Globe AwardsandCritics Choice Awards. The Netflix film also received 13Academy Award nominations, most among all films nominated at this year’s Oscars.

“The director just really trusted me and I was so grateful because I’ve gotten to show people that I am capable of doing more. I hope that this is just the beginning for me,” Gomez added of her work in the movie.

Selena Gomez in Emilia Pérez.Shanna Besson/Pathé

Shanna Besson/Pathé

While Gomez — who most recently released music with the 2024 single “Love On” — admitted that “some of the magic has disappeared” from her memories ofEmilia Pérezdue to the controversies surrounding her costar Gascón, she described filming the movie as “actually very cathartic.”

The actress also shared she has only sat through the movie once, when itpremiered at the Cannes Film Festivalin May 2024, where itwonCannes' best actress prize.

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“I watched in Cannes and then I started to watch it with my family and I got nervous and you know because my grandparents were seeing me say some stuff, and I was like, ‘Okay,’ " Gomez said. She also noted that her grandparents continue to “casually throw [the movie] on in the background.”

Selena Gomez and Dave Karger on Feb. 9, 2025.Presley Ann/Getty

Presley Ann/Getty

“But it was beautiful. I get very weird watching stuff sometimes, but I couldn’t have been more proud,” she added.

source: people.com