It’s a Cinderella story that could only happen with a little help from the Hollywood production system. “Monte Carlo” was initially based on a novel called “Headhunters,” a story of four middle-aged Midwestern women on a jaunt through France. It’s now a tale of three Texas gals — one is 18 and the other two (played by Katie Cassidy and Leighton Meester) are 21 — falling in love and getting in trouble on the Riviera.“It was based on a book geared toward older women,” Gomez explained during a promotional tour stopover in Livonia on June 27. “But when Fox got a hold of it, they decided to make it younger. Nicole still wanted to be involved, so she became a producer.”
Fox already was interested in Gomez, who starred in last summer’s “Beezus and Ramona.”
In “Monte Carlo,” Gomez plays Grace, a recent high school graduate who fulfills her dream of seeing Paris. She also gets more than she bargained for when she turns out to be a dead ringer for the snotty, amoral British socialite Cornelia Winthrop Scott. (Gomez also portrays the caustic Cordelia.)
Gomez has glowing words for co-stars Cassidy and Meester — “They were the best girls I could ever be paired with — so sweet and protective, and I could go to them for anything” — although she didn’t get much time to hang out with them before filming began.
“Leighton was still wrapping (her TV series) ‘Gossip Girl,’ and Katie came in late, so we were kind of thrown into it. But it worked out.”
Gomez spent two weeks practicing horseback riding for a scene in which she’s pulled into a polo match.
And so, unlike in the casinos of Monte Carlo, everybody wins.
Gomez gets a star vehicle, Kidman earns a producing credit and the teen audience is treated to an amiable comedy that pays tribute to the screwball spirit of 1930s mistaken-identity farces — while including a thoughtful nod to Monte Carlo’s most famous former resident, Grace Kelly. The iconic actress-turned-princess is seen in a French-dubbed clip from director Alfred Hitchcock´s “To Catch a Thief.”
“That was all Tom’s doing,” Gomez said, referring to director Thomas Bezucha (“The Family Stone”). “He wanted us to watch the movie. I was aware of Grace Kelly, but I’d never seen it.”
These days, Gomez barely has time to watch her own movies.
In addition to pushing the movie, she’s also making singing appearances to call attention to her album with her band, The Scene.Went on sale June 28 and Gomez’s hit song “Who Says” is featured in “Monte Carlo.” She’s been so busy, she was startled to realize “Sun” also was arriving the same week.
“Oh, yes!” she gasped when the release date was mentioned. “I completely forgot — oh, my goodness! I’m extremely nervous for this whole week.”
In case you hadn’t heard, in between acting, recording and touring, she’s also dating some guy named Justin Bieber.
Small wonder Gomez, who confesses “I get run down easily,” wound up in the hospital earlier this month. She’s feeling much better now, but she downplays reports that she’s completely overhauled her snacking habits.
“Not necessarily,” she admitted. “Ultimately, I’m an 18-year-old girl who wants to eat a lot of junk food. But I am trying to incorporate healthier food into my diet.”
Although some teenage stars go out of their way to insist they don’t want to be seen as role models, Gomez seems to have made peace with that situation.
“I don’t necessarily mind it,” she said. “It’s not something I obviously set myself up to be, but it’s a compliment, really. I do work really hard and try to be the best I can be. I’m not perfect — I make mistakes, I’m human — and I still feel like I’m growing up. Growing up with my fans.”
Gomez is in the process of deciding on her next project. A musical, perhaps?
“Maybe,” she said. “I mean, I’m open to anything. Honestly, I just don’t want to be pigeonholed, to keep doing the same thing over and over. But I don’t know what I’m looking for yet.”
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