She stars with comedy legends Steve Martin and Martin Short in the upcoming Hulu series Only Murders In The Building.
But Selena Gomez recalled during a panel at the TCA Summer 2021 Tour on Saturday that she didn’t always have the freedom and control necessary to work with such esteemed collaborators.
‘I signed my life away to Disney at a very young age and I didn’t know that’s what I was doing,’ said the 29-year-old actress with a laugh, according to Us Weekly.
No control: Selena Gomez, 29, said she signed her ‘life away to Disney’ as a teen starring on Wizards Of Waverly Place while at a TCA Summer 2021 Tour panel on Saturday; seen in May
Selena added that her tastes had matured since joining the Disney Channel series Wizards Of Waverly Place — which ran from 2007 to 2012 — when she was only 15.
Speaking of Only Murders In The Building, she said: ‘The level of the sophistication of the material is the reason why I wanted to do this.’
She added: ‘But I don’t know. I was just a kid and I didn’t know what I was doing [on Wizards Of Waverly Place]. I was just running around the set.’
Now that she’s working with esteemed collaborators like Martin and Short, she tries to learn by their example whenever possible.
A child: Selena was only 15 when she first began starring on Disney’s Wizards Of Waverly Place
Sophisticated: Speaking of Only Murders In The Building, she said: ‘The level of the sophistication of the material is the reason why I wanted to do this.’
‘Now, I’m just like a sponge and I soak up all the wisdom that I can,’ she said.
Gomez stars in the new series with Martin and Short as part of a trio of true crime obsessives living in the same New York City apartment building.
When one of the tenants in their building is murdered, the unlikely group decided to put their passion to use by starting a true crime podcast through which they’ll investigate the killing.
Selena plays the most aloof member of the group, though she makes up for her lack of people skills by being a talented detective.
The series also features Amy Ryan, and Nathan Lane was later added in a recurring capacity.
Still in the family: Selena didn’t expand on whether she regretted her lack of knowledge and control on Wizards Of Waverly Place, though she has stayed in the Disney fold somewhat, as the company is the majority owner of the streaming service Hulu
Selena didn’t expand on whether she regretted her lack of knowledge and control on Wizards Of Waverly Place, though she has stayed in the Disney fold somewhat, as the company is the majority owner of the streaming service Hulu.
The streamer has become the repository for many of the company’s properties that aren’t family-friendly enough to be featured on its Disney+ streaming service.
Selena starred on her Disney series as Alex Russo, a teenage wizard living in Manhattan who trains in the magical arts with her two brothers.
‘It’s just really nice to be back on TV and it’s nice to be cast as someone my own age which never happens,’ the singer–songwriter continued. ‘I’m just very happy to be doing this.’
Learning from the best: ‘Now, I’m just like a sponge and I soak up all the wisdom that I can,’ she said of her costars Steve Martin and Martin Short
Later, she was more self deprecating, adding: ‘I don’t know if I’m a good actor. I just do my job.’
Her costars had nothing but kind words, though, and Martin jumped in to add that ‘when Selena is on screen the show is elevated and more mysterious. The camera loves her,’ according to Page Six.
Short also praised her comedic abilities.
‘Selena grounds everything in this dry, hilarious delivery. It was a dream to work with this brilliant young lady.’
Only Murders In The Building will be available to stream on Hulu starting August 31.
Coming soon: Only Murders In The Building will be available to stream on Hulu starting August 31
