Selena Gomez Talks ‘Revival,’ Justin Bieber, Victoria’s Secret Models

You’ve said that songs like “Same Old Love” aren’t always about a specific relationship, but you must know people are going to assume they are.
Yeah, I understand that. It’s a song about a cycle, a cycle that people understand. It drives you mad, but it’s beautiful. People have seen most of the choices that I’ve made in my life. And I love every choice that I’ve made. Because now I understand how to apply that to my music. This is who I am. I’m glad my life was never perfect.

You performed at the Victoria’s Secret fashion show. There’s no big pillow fight backstage, but what’s it like?
No, but, man, it makes you want to work out and not eat anything. I did feel really short, but it was really fun. And the pressure wasn’t all on me. It was great to be able to dance with these beautiful women.

You have a cameo in Adam McKay’s new movie, The Big Short, helping to explain collateralized debt obligations. When you got offered that part, were you like, “The guy who made Anchorman wants me to talk about what?”
The producers called me, and I even said to them, “I have no idea what I just read.” But it was a no-brainer. I love Adam McKay. I just had to learn so much so fast. It’s a great movie, isn’t it?

You’re featured alongside economist Richard Thaler. Did you ever think to yourself, “Christian Bale, Brad Pitt and Ryan Gosling are in this movie – why am I filming a scene with a 70-year-old professor?”
To be honest, I was glad I didn’t have to do a scene with them. I would have been bright red and sweating the entire time.