Selena Gomez dishes on her relationship with boyfriend Benny Blanco and not being seen as a 'victim'

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Selena Gomez shared a rare insight into her personal life while opening up about everything from her relationship with Benny Blanco to mental health in a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

Despite growing up in the spotlight after getting her start on Barney & Friends at age 10, three years before getting cast on Disney Channel's Wizards of Waverly Place, the actress, 32, insisted that she still manages to feel like she has 'a private life.'

'I have my places to go, and no one bothers me at, like, [my half sister] Gracie’s soccer games. No one really bothers me unless I’m in the whole to-do,' she explained.

When asked about navigating tabloids and paparazzi for so long, the Grammy nominee noted that she hangs 'hang out with people who aren’t really in the business that much.'

She also quipped that she has become skilled at laying low, or attempting to go  incognito, on date nights by obscuring her face behind a scarf to avoid being photographed.

Unlike in the past, however, Gomez acknowledged she feels more comfortable posting photos and videos with Blanco, 36, who she began dating last year.

Selena Gomez shared a rare insight into her personal life while opening up about everything from her relationship with Benny Blanco to dealing with skeptical casting directors in a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter

'This is the safest I’ve ever felt in [a relationship], and I see a future with this person,' she gushed. 'And when you put a little bit out there, people are not as hungry to hunt you down.'

Still, she reminded fans that 'there’s so much' of her relationship that 'people don’t see' that's just for her and Blanco.

Gomez also got vulnerable when telling THR that transitioning more into acting from singing has given her 'sanity.' 

'It’s really scary to talk about music that maybe has been a part of your story and isn’t anymore,' she explained. 'And it’s really hard to sit there and talk about myself. It’s draining.'

This is a stark contrast from her press tour for her new film, Emilia Pérez, where the star claims she hasn't been asked a 'personal question' once. 

'Every interview I’ve done for this movie, there’s not been one personal question asked, and I’ve wanted to kiss every single reporter in the mouth and just say, "Thank you, because it’s been so refreshing,' and I think that that’s a space that is safer for me,' Gomez said. 

The Who Says hitmaker also credited her role as a big sister for making it easier to be happy for herself.  

'I knew I had to be a lot stronger than succumbing to people’s chatter,' she said. 'I’ve always tried to be strong around her and vulnerable with her. I really do want to make this a better world for her.'

Despite growing up in the spotlight after getting her start on Barney & Friends at age 10, three years before getting cast on Disney Channel's Wizards of Waverly Place, the actress, 32, insisted that she still manages to feel like she has 'a private life'

'I have my places to go, and no one bothers me at, like, [my half sister] Gracie’s soccer games. No one really bothers me unless I’m in the whole to-do,' she explained

When asked about navigating tabloids and paparazzi for so long, the Grammy nominee noted that she hangs 'hang out with people who aren’t really in the business that much'

When asked if her younger sibling, 11, is aware of her fame and success, Gomez said they 'don’t really get bothered' when they're out bowling or on trips to Target together. 

'If we do, she’s used to it. It does bring me joy when she’s like, “I don’t really want to do what you do,”' Gomez added. 

If Gracie ends up wanting to follow her footsteps, Gomez says she will 'support whatever her dreams are.'

'I knew very young that I wanted to be in the entertainment industry, and I’m so grateful that she hasn’t felt like I live a sparkly life, so she wants that life,' the singer reflected.

Unlike in the past, however, Gomez acknowledged she feels more comfortable posting photos and videos with Blanco, 36, who she began dating last year

'This is the safest I’ve ever felt in [a relationship], and I see a future with this person,' she gushed. 'And when you put a little bit out there, people are not as hungry to hunt you down'

Still, she reminded fans that 'there’s so much' of her relationship that 'people don’t see' that's just for her and Blanco

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Gomez also stressed that she doesn't 'sulk' in the idea that she missed out on being a kid.

'When I was younger, [acting made me] feel like I belonged. I’d get brutally made fun of at school for being on Barney — I was far too old for Barney — but I had so much fun doing it, and, again, I liked feeling like I belonged somewhere,' she said.

Even now, after two decades, Gomez said she loves what she does. 

'I love where I am in every aspect of my life right now, and I’m really proud of how far I’ve come. I feel healthy. I feel happy. I feel peaceful,' the performer stated.

Amid significant Oscar buzz for her latest film, the actress confessed she was 'very confused.'

Gomez also stressed that she doesn't 'sulk' in the idea that she missed out on being a kid

'When I was younger, [acting made me] feel like I belonged. I’d get brutally made fun of at school for being on Barney — I was far too old for Barney — but I had so much fun doing it, and, again, I liked feeling like I belonged somewhere,' she said

'Music will always be in my soul, but I never really got to spend enough time in the field that I originally wanted to be in,' she said of acting. 'I’ve been very strategic and trying my hardest to pick projects that are going to be compelling and not necessarily what people would envision me doing.'

She continued: 'That’s something I get a high off of. But it was funny with Emilia, I genuinely thought it was going to be a movie that, like, came out in France.'

She was particularly surprised by all the praise as she admitted that she, sometimes, gets rejected before even getting the opportunity to audition for a role. 

'Well, if they think I’m too young for a part, or whatever the case may be, we use a tactic where we don’t tell them it’s me auditioning so that they just have to accept me auditioning,' she revealed.

Gomez added: 'Sometimes even them just hearing that I want to audition, they’ll be like, “No, that’s not going to match for what we’re doing.” Or it’s, “We’re going to hire people that nobody knows,” and then they hire, like, Austin Butler, and I’m like, “Cool.” But I’m not angry, it’s the position I have and it’s OK. It just means I’m going to continue to do things that are hopefully compelling and different.'

 While she doesn't go under a different name, she has sent in tapes where 'they don't know it's' her or will have her managers say they 'have a client that’ll have a read.' 

Even now, after two decades, Gomez said she loves what she does and is 'really proud of how far' she's come (seen earlier this month at the the 2024 ELLE Women In Hollywood Celebration)

'It worked on one of the movies I did, because they looked at me as I walked in and I thought I’d lost it immediately because they went, “Ooohh.” I was like, “No, no, no, no. Just let me read.” It was Fundamentals of Caring, a cute little movie [with Paul Rudd]. And it worked, I got it. You kind of have to do the dance,' she mused.

Even after Emilia Pérez, Gomez deals with dealing with skeptical casting directors and said she's not 'getting movie parts offered' to her all the time, like many assume. 

In the future she dreams of working with Aaron Sorkin and Martin Scorsese. 

'I so badly want to make sure [Scorsese] doesn’t quit suddenly or retire. Like, just one more, I’ll be in two scenes. That’s another thing that I factor in. I don’t ever need to be the star,' she noted. 'If anything, that scares me because it feels like the responsibility is mainly on me. I’m still learning. I just know that I go for things that aren’t necessarily conventional.'