Martin Short had his doubts about Selena Gomez’s potential as a co-star at first, but it didn’t take him long to realize that working with her was “fabulous” — right from the “first second” they started filming Only Murders in the Building together.
During an interview with PEOPLE that took place on Wednesday night at the first Rare Impact Fund Benefit hosted by Gomez, Short, 73, said that Gomez, 31, was nothing like the “pop princess nightmare” he had anticipated she would be.
“Prior to the first day of filming, I had never had the pleasure of meeting Selena. We were only able to employ Zoomed because of COVID,” Short said. “And while I was heading to work, the idea occurred to me, “I wonder what Selena’s might possibly be like.” I’m just saying, she has the potential to be a nightmare. She has the potential to be a pop princess’ worst nightmare.”
However, Short said, “Right away — from the first second we started to the makeup room — it was, like, fabulous.”
He continued by saying that Gomez is “always on time, and she always knows her lines.” It’s wonderful on so many levels: so good, so brilliant, and such a seasoned pro.
Since then, Short has collaborated with the multi-talented individual for the last three seasons of the Hulu series, which has recently been renewed for a fourth season. Short plays the role of Oliver Putnam in the series with Selena Gomez and Steve Martin.
And Short made it a point to be there to show his friend’s support at the Hollywood event that Gomez sponsored in an attempt to collect money for the mental health of young people. The actor, who attended the event to offer his support since “mental health is something that touches every family member,” also expounded on the significance of someone with Gomez’s celebrity utilizing it to make a difference in the world.
“Well, that’s what everyone with that kind of clout should do,” adds the politician. “When you have 440 million Instagram followers, you don’t want to just make it about your merch.”
Gomez herself spoke up to PEOPLE at the event for the fund that her 10-year-old sister Gracie spurred the formation of. The benefit was held at the fundraiser for the charity.
When asked whether she wanted the Rare Impact Fund to be part of her legacy, she said, “It is my first time throwing something and I hate asking people for money, so I don’t know,” since it was her first time doing either of those things. “It’s like a strange idea, but I know that we’re doing a good thing, and I couldn’t be more lucky to have the platform to do that,” she said. “It’s like a weird concept.”
The Only Murders actress also discussed how she does not have the same kind of pressure as she had in her 20s and 10s to accomplish certain goals in her 30s.”Now that I’m 30, I care less, so it’s actually nice,” she said in her conversation with the journalist. “Now I’m free to concentrate on what really matters, and I don’t have to worry about the things that were previously preventing me from progressing.”
Meryl Streep, Jesse Williams, Ashley Park, and Paul Rudd were some of the notable names who appeared in the third season of Only Murders. Showrunner John Hoffman has said in the past that there is “no greater hope” than having both Williams and Streep come back for more action in the fourth season of the program.
“I mean, for God’s sakes, I would bring Paul back if we can,” he said further. “Listen, if it were up to me, I’d bring everyone back, and it’s possible that will happen. We have the ability to narrate our tales using a variety of different narrative structures, and both victims and perpetrators have roles that they may play within those structures.