Selena Gomez out to protect a princess

MANILA, Philippines - Named after the late singing legend, Selena Quintanilla, 16-year-old teen sensation Selena Gomez, who was recently named one of People Magazine’s Most Beautiful Under 21 list, has indeed come a long way since starring in the wildly popular Disney Channel series Wizards of Waverly Place.

This September, she’s on a roll as she stars alongside her real and reel life bestfriend, Demi Lovato, in the latest Disney Channel Original Movie, Princess Protection Program. Here, Selena Gomez talks about the much-awaited adventure-comedy filmed in Puerto Rico.

What is Princess Protection Program all about?

The movie is about a young princess whose country is about to be taken over and in order for her to get away from all the bad guys, she has to go into this Princess Protection Program. The princess has to cut her hair, live a secret identity and she has to come live with me and my dad.

And my character and Rosie’s kind of butt heads a lot and they don’t agree on stuff. But I think the movie is mainly about finding who you are, what friendship means and what it is to have someone by your side.

Talk a little about your character specifically. Who is she, and how would you describe her? How different or similar is she to the real Selena Gomez?

I play Carter Mason, and she’s definitely the quiet one, all kept to herself. I think that she puts on this front that she’s a confident girl and doesn’t need anyone by her side. But deep down inside she’s just a girl who wants a best friend, who needs someone to be there for her to help her through things.

In the movie, you see how meeting Rosie changes her as they become friends. She finds out who she really is and it’s neat. Towards the end of the movie it’s like she becomes a princess as well.

I understand that you hadn’t worked with Demi Lovato before. Can you talk about meeting Demi and working with her?

I remember when I first met Demi. It was in line with 1,400 kids on a hot Texas day. And we happened to be sitting right next to each other. We were both six or seven years old going on an audition and she offered her jacket then we sat down and we colored. Back then, we got to do our first project together and that was years ago. She’s been my best friend ever since and we’ve always been together. She’s lived with me; I’ve lived with her, coming through the whole thing. She’s always been there for me.

So to be able to do a project with her after all these years, to finally be able to work with her, to do a movie with her is pretty much a cool blessing. One of my childhood dreams is to work with my best friend.

So going off with that, did you guys like mess around a lot on the set or what was the chemistry like on and off camera?

Although I love Demi to death, definitely it’s hard to focus. You’re with your best friend, you want to talk and you want to know what’s going on. But it was so much fun to already have chemistry there. It was difficult to be mad at her in scenes when we were angry with each other and we would, as soon as they’d say cut, say, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” But also, we were just joking around and it was fun.

What was your favorite scene in the movie?

My favorite scene would be the yogurt shop. It’s where Rosie gets her first job and the mean girls pick on her. And I think that’s my favorite because it’s a pretty much emotional scene for Demi. Demi kind of went through some stuff like that when she was in school. So it’s hard for her to go back to that place and she had to cry in it. In a way, it broke my heart, too, ‘cause, she’s my best friend. It was an emotional scene for both of us that ended up turning out really good and that would be my favorite one, plus we got free yogurt, so that was awesome!

Can you talk a little bit about the similarities between this character and your role in Disney Channel’s Wizards of Waverly Place?

My characters in Princess Protection Program and Wizards of Waverly Place are kind of the same in ways but are very different in others. You know, Alex of Wizards is definitely outgoing and is out there. She’s kind of sassy and she’s always the one that gets in trouble a lot. Whereas Carter kept to herself and is shy. She tries not to get in trouble and doesn’t really have that many friends. Alex is a social butterfly, and she wants to make friends with everyone. It was kind of stepping into different shoes but at the same time they’re both kind of the tomboy-girl characters.

What was it like shooting in Puerto Rico?

It was awesome, so much fun! It was kind of like going on a vacation and working at the same time. You know, we were right on the beach, and we got to go to the rainforest and we went salsa dancing one night. It was like my family and my best friend’s family all going on vacation together. You couldn’t have asked for a better place or a better person to go with.

Why should we watch this movie and what is its appeal to viewers?

I think people will truly enjoy Princess Protection Program. Hopefully, families can really trust their kids to watch the movie. It’s a girl’s dream to become a princess and it’s also good for kids to see that you’re not alone. There are people out there who may seem like they have everything, but really they don’t — they need a best friend. I hope it attracts little kids with dressing up like princesses and high school kids ‘cause we’re dealing with high school issues.

And for parents because I don’t have a mom in the movie and my dad’s my guy. He’s the one that I lean on and I think that relationship is special and hopefully it will appeal to dads and daughters. And we kind of want to make sure that everybody enjoys this movie as we put a little bit of heart into it.

Catch the premiere of Princess Protection Program on Sept. 6, 7:30 p.m. on Disney Channel.