Selena Gomez

I learned everything from that show ("Barney & Friends"). So it's such a wonderful memory to me. A lot of people would be embarrassed to say they were on 'Barney' but I embrace the fact and I had such a wonderful time doing that show, — Selena Gomez

Selena Gomez
Selena Gomez at the 2022 Critics Choice Awards.
Name	Selena Gomez
Born	Selena Marie Gomez July 22, 1992 (age 32) Grand Prairie, Texas, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Singer • actress • producer
Years Active	Barney 2001-2003
Social media	@Selena @selenagomez @selenagomez @selenagomez @selenagomez
Website	https://www.selenagomez.com/
See also	Media

Selena Marie Gomez (born July 22, 1992 in Grand Prairie, Texas) is an American actress, singer, and businesswoman. She began her acting career on the children's television series Barney & Friends, portraying Gianna in seasons seven and eight of the show. Her role as Gianna was one of her first appearances on television. She is one of the most well-known actresses to have appeared on the show.

Following Gomez's role in Barney & Friends, she is known in other television series such as Wizards of Waverly Place and Only Murders in the Building and appearing in films such as Ramona and Beezus, Another Cinderella Story, the Hotel Transylvania franchise and Spring Breakers. In addition to her acting career, Gomez has released several songs and albums.

Career

Barney & Friends

Gomez first gained an interest in pursuing a career in entertainment watching her mother prepare for stage productions. Her mother found an open casting call audition for Barney & Friends online. While excited, she spent her ninth birthday auditioning for the show. She sat in line (alongside her mother) with 1400 children before being picked as one of the cast members. Gomez, who was in fifth grade at the time, debuted in the role of Gianna in 2002. While appearing on iHeartRadio's "The Box" in 2019, Gomez compared her time on the show to feeling like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory due to the fun and colorful sets. The final appearance of Gomez as Gianna was released in 2004.

Post-Barney

Selena Gomez holds a (Barney Buddies, 2018) Barney plush on iHeartRadio's "The Box".

Following her time on Barney & Friends, Gomez has discussed being on the show numerous time in various interviews. In relation to her music career, Gomez would sell t-shirts of her and Barney at her concerts, which is the shirt that would sell out the most.

While appearing on the UK radio show BBC Radio 1 on February 15, 2018, Gomez partook in a game in which she was to finish the lyrics to songs she's sung during her career. Out of the three songs that played, which were “I Want You to Know", "One and the Same" and "The Idea Song" (from Barney & Friends), Gomez only remembered the latter to her surprise.

While appearing on the Zach Sang Show in October 2019, Gomez expressed interest in wanting to join the upcoming Barney film. Gomez was inquired to be in the documentary I Love You, You Hate Me, but declined interview requests due to it not involving Mattel.

"I Love You"

On May 14, 2022, Gomez made her debut as host of Saturday Night Live. In her opening monologue Gomez cited Barney as a Hollywood icon she worked with as well as crediting Barney & Friends as her first show to be on. She ended her monologue by singing "I Love You" encouraging the audience to join in.

On September 1, 2022, the seventh episode to the fourth season of Selena + Chef was released (titled "Selena + Matty Matheson"). During that episode, Gomez's friends started singing "I Love You" after Gomez brought up the fact that she was on Barney & Friends.

Personal Life

Selena Gomez's cake for her 30th birthday.

Barney & Friends

During her time on Barney & Friends, Gomez received inappropriate fan mail from a man which caused the crew to hire police to be at the studio anytime she was doing an episode.

For Gomez's 30th birthday in July 22, 2022, she had a cake with a photo of her and Barney on it, paying homage to her time on Barney & Friends. In multiple interviews, she admitted that her classmates would tease and make fun of her for acting in a show aimed at preschoolers.

Trivia

• Gomez appeared as a background character and cameo in the video Barney's Christmas Star, which was filmed before her official debut as "Gianna" on Barney & Friends.
• While on the set of Barney & Friends, she was able to tell other children their lines and inform them of their stage directions, given her memorization, in any event they forgot while filming.
• In honor of the 25 Million Hugs Campaign for Barney's 25th Anniversary, Barney sent a (virtual) hug to Gomez.
• Along with other former Barney & Friends child actors, Gomez has appeared on Radio Disney, a radio network that was co-founded by Dean Wendt, the voice of Barney during her time on the show.

Barney alumni

• Gomez shares a birthday with Madison Pettis, who portrayed Bridget on Barney & Friends. Gomez is six years older than Pettis.
• Gomez attended Cathryn Sullivan's Acting for Film which is also where Jeremy Becerra, Lovato, Pettis and Jaren Lewison (former cast members of Barney & Friends) attended.

Demi Lovato and Hayden Tweedie

• Gomez, alongside Lovato and Tweedie, had a crush on Carey Stinson, who was Barney's costume performer during their time on the show.
• While on Barney & Friends, Gomez was good friends with Demi Lovato and Hayden Tweedie who portrayed Angela and Sarah respectively.
• During auditions, Demi Lovato was in front of Gomez.

Demi Lovato, Hayden Tweedie and Selena Gomez together as teenagers.

Dean Wendt hugs (left to right) Hayden Tweedie, Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato.

Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato.

Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, and Hayden Tweedie acting silly during lunch.