Selena Gomez would often get confused by one of her TV characters early in her career.
During the November 25 episode Chatting at the Hollywood Reporter Awards podcast, which was recorded in front of an audience at Chapman University, the actress, 32, revealed why she never minded being mistaken for Wizards of Waverly Place character Alex Russo in the Disney Channel series that aired for four seasons between 2007 and 2012.
“We would record our footage for wizards in front of a live audience every Friday night. And that was the greatest thrill I could ever get. It was the coolest feeling to make a kid laugh uncontrollably because it’s pure,” she said.
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David Henrie and Selena Gomez on “Wizards of Waverly Place.”
Eric McCandless/Disney Channel/Getty
“I mean, I’ve had kids come over and they only know me as Alex. You know? And they’ll have full conversations like, ‘Where’s your wand?’ Gomez said.
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“I think that’s probably the moment I’ll never forget where I recognized that we have an impact to make people and children feel good,” she added.
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Selena Gomez arrives at ELLE’s Women in Hollywood 2024 Event November 19, 2024
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The “Love On” singer reprized her role for the pilot episode of the new spin-off series, Wizards Beyond Waverly Placewhich she executive produces together with her former TV brother David Henrie.
“It was a dream come true. [She] and I’ve kept in such good contact and we’ve remained good friends,” Henrie told PEOPLE of the reunion in September.
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Selena Gomez on “Wizards Beyond Waverly Place.”
Eric McCandless/Disney
At the premiere of the new series in October, she told PEOPLE exclusively that she believes her character has evolved since the original series.
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“Personally, I think we kind of picked up where we left off and it shows a very established Justin and also a very established Alex and you’re still interested in what they’re going through, but it felt like a rhythm that we have back in,” she said.
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Source: HIS Education