Selena Gomez wants to earn her movie roles

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 8 (UPI) -- Selena Gomez says she works hard for her movie roles.

The 22-year-old actress detailed her dedication to acting in an interview with Us Weekly on Tuesday. Gomez will next appear as a grieving girlfriend in Rudderless, and told the magazine co-stars William H. Macy, Felicity Huffman and Billy Crudup inspire her to improve.

"Honestly, the reason why I take certain parts is not because I feel like I could just accept it," she shared. "I want to be the person who earns it. I've auditioned for every movie I've been a part of, and I've wanted to genuinely feel like I earned it."

"I would rather be in a smaller part and learn from people like Bill, Felicity and Billy," she continued. "That makes me a better actress. Even though I feel like it can be uncomfortable sometimes, that's honestly what's going to make me grow."

Gomez has previously appeared in such films as Ramona and Beezus, Monte Carlo and Spring Breakers. Rudderless, which follows the aftermath of a teen's death in a school shooting, is a marked departure from her other features, and the actress said she was grateful for the challenge.

"I'm extremely lucky," she related. "I love to push myself. I can't say I got this [role] because of who I am. I got this in spite of who I am. That's what I love about acting. I can escape from the madness. This project in particular made me feel like I get to be a real actress."

Rudderless opens in theaters October 17. The film marks Macy's directorial debut, and co-stars Anton Yelchin, Laurence Fishburne, Jamie Chung and Ben Kweller.