Selena Gomez: Emmy-nominated actress who almost gave it all up

After four seasons of 'Only Murders in the Building,' Selena Gomez finally received her first Emmy nomination in the category 'Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series'. It's a great reward after her struggle to get back into the spotlights.

'Only Murders in the Building' and 'Hotel Transylvania: Transformania': two productions that put Selena Gomez back on our screens in 2021 and 2022. It was a pleasant surprise to see her because, just a few years earlier, the actress/singer had serious thoughts of quitting showbiz altogether.

Gomez had started out as a child star, singing and acting for the Disney channel. She then tried her hand at a music career and decided she didn't like it. By the late 2010s, Selena Gomez went completely off the radar for a while. She didn't even post anything on social media.

The star was 28 years old, with financial stability and the affection of millions of fans, when she considered the radical idea of retirement - at least from the music industry. But how did she get to that point?

Selena Gomez has been under the scrutiny of millions of people since she was very young. At the age of 10, she was already one of Disney Channel's top talents, appearing on 'Barney & Friends' alongside Demi Lovato. Three years later, at the age of 13, she became a global star in 'Wizards of Waverly Place'.

While playing the cheerful and funny girl on TV, the singer and actress struggled with mental health problems, specifically bipolar disorder and anxiety. She discussed them openly in April 2020 to raise awareness for these widespread, often hidden, and stigmatized ailments.

"I recently went to one of the best psychiatric hospitals, McLean Hospital in Massachusetts, and I realized that, after years of going through a lot of different things, this was bipolar disorder," the actress told Vogue. Finding the root of the problem was liberating for Selena Gomez, because "the more information I have about this illness, the less afraid I am. I'm not afraid anymore."

Professionally, Selena Gomez is dealing with what some call the 'Disney Star Syndrome'. "I have this nagging feeling that people still see me as a Disney girl," she told Vogue. The immense fame from children's television remains a difficult burden, indeed, for any star who emerges from that prolific pool of talent.

Photo: Selena Gomez with fellow Disney star Miley Cyrus in 2008

The actress felt that, despite a career with songs of proven quality ('Back to You', 'Naturally', 'Love You Like a Love Song' or 'Wolves') and selling millions of singles and albums, the music industry did not give her much attention in the 2010s. "It's hard to keep making music when people don't take you seriously. I've come to wonder why I'm still doing this."

Selena Gomez is also fed up with all the fame, she told Vogue. Ever since she was a minor, the star has been one of the celebrities most pursued by the paparazzi, especially after embarking on a relationship with Justin Bieber.

She denounced the harassment by the paparazzi several times. In the interview with Vogue, she recounted an old example that had left her scarred. It happened when she was only 15. "I remember going to the beach with some family members who were visiting, and we saw, far away, grown men with cameras - taking pictures of a 15-year-old in her swimsuit. That is a violating feeling."

The emotional toll of her relationship with Justin Bieber, broadcast almost live in the media, also weighed heavily on Selena Gomez. Their comings and goings affected her greatly and it took her longer than expected to get over the numerous break-ups they had.

Her health problems made things worse. In addition to depressive and anxiety crises - leading her to cancel a world tour - she also suffered from a social media addiction that forced her into rehab, a kidney transplant in 2017, and the chronic illness of lupus. It's a complicated history of ailments for a young woman.

For these reasons, Selena Gomez moved away from the stage. She produced series like '13 Reasons Why', made a cooking show ('Selena + Chef'), and launched a successful make-up line (Rare Beauty). She noticed that these different lines of work gave her the peace of mind she was looking for.

The only moment Selena Gomez reappeared on social media was to denounce the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. Gomez blamed the companies of major social media for helping people get misinformed and facilitating the rebellion.

Photo: Selena Gomez / Instagram

The release of her Spanish-language album 'Revelation' ('Revelación') in March 2021 was a good moment to tell her true story to the world. Selena Gomez was tired of always having to look good, even when she really didn't feel that way.

Speaking to People magazine, Selena Gomez confessed that she found it "impossible to pretend that everything is okay." At times she didn't feel authentic on the stage. Luckily, her fans helped make things easier. "I don't forget the connection I have with them," she said, acknowledging how supportive her fans have been of her.

On the rare occasion that Selena Gomez appeared on social media, we could see how close she was to her fans and colleagues. For example, she wrote to Taylor Swift to say that she missed her. The two artists had been close since 2008 when Selena was dating Nick Jonas and Taylor was in a relationship with his brother Joe. Circumstances and the pandemic stopped them from spending as much time together as they'd like.

Photo: Selena Gomez / Instagram

Selena Gomez appears to have gone through big life changes. In addition, went through a revival as an actress. First, there was the 'Hotel Transylvania' franchise where she is one of the regular voice actresses. Second, there's the crime comedy 'Only Murders in the Building.'

Selena Gomez hasn't brought out any solo albums since 'Revelación,' but she did do a number of very successful collaborations. We all know the Afrobeat song 'Calm Down' in which Gomez sang along with Nigerian singer Rema. She's also collaborated with K-pop group Blackpink and the British superstars of Coldplay, among others.

Perhaps music producer Benny Blanco has something to do with Selena's renewed energy and creative success? The two reportedly started dating in 2023 but they had known each other through musical collaborations in previous years. By now, they seem like a radiant and steady couple whenever they appear in public together.

And on top of it all, there's 'Only Murders in the Building'! It follows three neighbors in a New York apartment complex as they investigate the mysterious events happening there. The popular series stars Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez herself. The two veterans and Selena form an ideal comedic trio that won the hearts of many Disney+ viewers.

It seems, therefore, that Selena Gomez has found her calling: acting and singing in star-studded ensembles! Whether it's her voice in 'Hotel Transylvania', the song 'Calm Down,' or her main role in 'Only Murders', the actress shows that her true talent is that of a storyteller with a sense of humor.

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