EXCLUSIVE! Selena Gomez: On Her Feature Films and Turning 18!

We just got off the cell with Selena Gomez of "Wizards of Waverly Place" and the new film Ramona and Beezus, based upon the popular novels by Beverly Cleary, which hits theaters July 23rd.

Selena has been insisting that she's single now and told us she'll celebrate her upcoming 18th birthday by having a homey barbeque with pals. The talented brunette has also just wrapped her feature film Monte Carlo in which she co-stars with Leighton Meester of "Gossip Girl", Katie Cassidy and "Glee's" Cory Monteith, and she spills some set secrets and talks about her sexy new music video.

Selena hasn't gotten to see her pal Demi Lovato's new "Camp Rock 2" TV movie, is looking forward to it and told us about working with another pal on "Beezus"....

TeenHollywood: Hutch Dano of "Zeke and Luther" plays your boyfriend Henry in the movie. Had you worked with him before? Did you get to have a say in his casting?

Selena: He actually auditioned for my show ("Wizards of Waverly Place") a couple of times and I'd see him a lot. He's friends with Jennifer (Stone) so he would come on my set and hang out. So, when he got the part, he texted me and was like 'hey, I got the part' and I was like 'Oh my gosh. I'm so stoked'. So, I really had a great time with him. It was nice to have someone I knew and was comfortable with.

TeenHollywood: Ramona, age nine, has a big imagination and she colors outside the lines in life. Were you like that at her age and, if so, are you still?

Selena: Yes, absolutely. I mean I am still a kid but not completely. I love being silly and enjoying the fact that I don't have responsibilities in my home. I definitely feel like I can be a kid.

TeenHollywood: For those who haven't read the books or seen the film yet, why is your character named Beezus? Such a weird name.

Selena: When she was little, she couldn't say Beatrice so it became Beezus.

TeenHollywood: Makes sense. Was the water fight in the movie (guys vs. girls) as much fun as it looked or did you just have to dry off, then get wet and shoot it over and over?

Selena: We didn't have to get dry and reshoot. We did it at the end of the day and everybody was so competitive. We were genuinely fighting so it was really fun. It was cold in Vancouver at the time. It was still early Spring and we were kind of freezing. I'm surprised nobody got sick.

TeenHollywood: Who won?

Selena: I think Josh (Duhamel's) side won because he was completely overboard with it. Guys are just way more competitive.

TeenHollywood: How are you like your character Beezus and how are you very different from her?

Selena: I'm responsible in that I have my job and I'm professional as best I can be on set but I think I'm more like Ramona in the sense of being a little bit free. Beezus is a little too self-involved I think. She's constantly wanting to please everyone around her and she should embrace herself a little bit more.

TeenHollywood: Was Joey King, who plays your little sister Ramona, familiar with your work on "Wizards" and your music when she first met you?

Selena: Yeah, she was a fan of my show, which is a compliment, but she never once let (being a fan) get in the way which was really nice because I was there to do my job. I instantly clicked with her. I connected with her and she was so sweet and so wonderful and such a doll and a pleasure to work with. She's become one of my best friends now.

TeenHollywood: You don't have a little sis in real life but, after making this film, what advice would you give to teens who have a little sister or brother who is driving them crazy?

Selena: That every person is different and I think that you should embrace the good side. I think, at the beginning of the movie, (Ramona and Beezus) focus on all the negative parts of each other. Older sisters usually hate the fact that 'they're in my room' or 'they're stealing this or that'. You should just look at all the great things like how Beezus learned how to be a little more free and Ramona embraced being a little bit more responsible. So, it's just about bringing out the best in each other.

TeenHollywood: The movie is purposely trying to be kind of timeless by not having everyone using a lot of modern technology.. nobody is constantly texting or e-mailing. It has a retro feel. Was that refreshing for you or just kind of weird?

Selena: It was refreshing, absolutely. I was not wearing the "in", trendy clothes. I was wearing comfortable clothes; things that normal 15-year-old girls would wear. I didn't have a cell phone, no i-pod and it was so refreshing to be a part of that world.

TeenHollywood: It was a more simple time. I think we've lost a lot of our personal interaction with teens texting all the time rather than getting together.

Selena: I totally agree.

TeenHollywood: Who in the cast was the biggest prankster and what did they pull on everyone?

Selena: John Corbett (who plays her dad in the film) and the lovely thing he wanted to constantly do was to throw us off. So in the middle of a scene, if it was my coverage (camera on her) he would lift up his shirt and be like 'look at my six pack!' or he'd throw things at us to throw us off to just keep us up (on our toes) which was good because they got great reaction shots from me and Joey on that.

TeenHollywood: How was shooting the film in a real neighborhood in Vancouver? Did that give the cast a homey feel?

Selena: It was incredible. The families were so sweet. They invited us to barbeques and we got along with everyone. It did feel like we were shooting at home. We were at home and it was nice.

TeenHollywood: Your 18th birthday is coming up later this month (the 22nd) What are your plans?

Selena: I'm having a barbeque with my friends in L.A. I wish it was home in Texas but it's in L.A.

TeenHollywood: Your "Round and Round" video shows you as a much more grown up, sophisticated "La Femme Nikita" spy girl. Did you purposely want to look less like a teen and more like a "woman" in that one? I really enjoyed it.

Selena: Oh, thank you! It's really just kind of joking around. It's supposed to be a '60's theme so it's supposed to be funny and we're trying so hard to be serious.

TeenHollywood: You have some great clothes in that.

Selena: It was really fun to dress up like that. Those heels (very high Louboutin pumps) were not fun to run around in.

TeenHollywood: On the Ramona and Beezus soundtrack is "Live Like There's No Tomorrow". Did you select that one or write it?

Selena: They wanted to do a song for the movie and I didn't have time to go into the studio to write one. I picked that song because I thought it had the exact message of this movie. The family was in a tough, sticky financial situation so we really just lived every single day to the fullest because we knew that it was going to be taken away from us. We were moving and going into a whole different world so I think that's a great message. Each single day should be a blessing.

TeenHollywood: Are you wrapped on the movie Monte Carlo yet?

Selena: Yeah. I'm back in New York. It wrapped about four days ago.

TeenHollywood: Was that a great adventure with Leighton (Meester) and Katie (Cassidy)? Did you have a favorite location?

Selena: I think we all liked Paris but we also liked Monte Carlo because where we went was just a bonding experience for us. I really learned a lot from them and they were extremely encouraging and great and wonderful people. There were lots of dinners and talking and ice cream.

TeenHollywood: Will there be a "Wizards" TV movie sequel?

Selena: Yes there will be. We don't know what the story is yet. We're focusing now on going back to work on Season 4 and I think, at the moment, they're coming up with a strong concept for the second movie. We want it to be a good, strong movie that wraps the season up but also leaves room for the imagination and the mystery of more. So, we're hoping it's going to be bigger and better.

TeenHollywood: Will you do a movie called What Boys Want (she would play a girl who can read guys' minds)?

Selena: It's in pre-production so I'm not sure. It depends on the script as far as me being attached to it.