On any red carpet, Selena Gomez is the epitome of beauty, poise and confidence. But she’ll be the first to tell you that things aren’t always as they seem. For example, her latest film: “Emilia Pérez”. Gomez plays the wife of a powerful Mexican drug lord who secretly carries out a transition. The film is a haunting true crime story, a poignant love story, a journey of self-discovery – and a musical. But somehow everything works.

To watch a trailer for “Emilia Pérez,” click on the video player below:

Gomez said the shooting left her “a little sore” from all the dancing. So why did she want to do it? “I found it incredibly compelling,” she said. “I have never seen a film like this before. I don’t think I’ve ever been so proud of anything in the acting field.”

And that’s really saying something; At 32, Gomez has a lot to be proud of: she’s an accomplished actress but also a very successful singer-songwriter, and thanks to her hugely popular cosmetics line Rare Beauty, she’s a billionaire and a very active philanthropist. It’s all pretty impressive, even more so considering where she started.

Gomez was born in the Texas city of Grand Prairie. Her mother, Mandy Teefy, was only 16 years old. Selena’s parents separated when she was five years old. She says the family had a lot of love and not much else, during difficult times when her mother struggled to put food on the table. “My mother worked multiple jobs,” she said. “She was also just out of high school when she gave birth to me. Today, when I do something great, it only makes me more grateful for the lessons my mother taught me.”

Gomez was barely 10 years old when she landed a role on the television series “Barney & Friends,” and a few years later she became a fixture on the Disney Channel, in shows like “Wizards of Waverly Place.”

She turned to music and became a pop sensation. And when the pandemic hit, she switched gears again, hosting “Selena + Chef,” a popular online cooking show filmed in the kitchen of her LA home. “We had cameras everywhere and in every way,” she said.

And how are your cooking skills now? “They’re not that great, I’m not going to lie!” she laughed.

And then in 2021, she helped create one of television’s biggest hits: “Only Murders in the Building.” She praised her co-stars Steve Martin and Martin Short: “These men, Steve and Martin, have been working longer than I’ve been alive, but they’re the first on set. They take the time to ask everyone. Find out what their day is like. And on top of that, they are wonderful people and have helped me grow up in many ways. These guys have become my friends and allies. Advice from. I couldn’t be more grateful to work with them.”

Gomez is the first to admit that she’s had a magical life and that it hasn’t always been a walk in the park. She has been open about her health problems, such as lupus and a kidney transplant.

She also decided to go public with her struggles with anxiety and depression, as well as her bipolar diagnosis. Her 2022 documentary “Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me” is an unvarnished look at her life – the highs and the very low lows.

She admits she was a little nervous about sharing it with the world, but “when I released it, it felt like a huge relief because I firmly believe that one of the most powerful things you can do can be, is to be vulnerable. And it does.” That doesn’t mean you have to pour your heart out to everyone, but I made that decision because I knew I wasn’t the only one who felt that way. And if my world was already visible to everyone, I would want to tell my part of the story and add to it. This is a dream, what I’m doing.

Part of her dream was a fundraiser last month for her Rare Impact Fund, a charity that aims to help young people who suffer from the same mental health issues as her. “That’s probably the most important thing to me, besides my family,” she said. “This is the icing on the cake of everything.”

Another highlight is her relationship with music producer Benny Blanco, who People Magazine named one of the sexiest men in the world. “Yes, that’s my husband!” said Gomez. “Knowing that there is someone in the world who cares about every little detail of who I am is a real blessing for me.”

“Emilia Pérez” makes it clear that she is an artist who likes to take risks. But Selena Gomez’s bravest move was revealing her true self, and that made all the difference.

I asked, “The reaction has generally been overwhelmingly positive, hasn’t it?”

“Secure. Maybe,” Gomez replied.

Perhaps? “It’s not like I really need anyone’s approval,” she added. “I think I’m doing really well where I am and who I am. And I’m glad. I’m glad I finally did it.”

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The story was produced by John D’Amelio. Editor: Steven Tyler.