Bet You Didn’t Know: Secrets Behind The Making Of “Selena”

The Other Cast

Brother

The actor who portrays Selena’s brother, Abie is Jacob Vargas. Vargas was personally selected by Abie to play the role. In an interview, Vargas said, “Abie told me he wanted me to do it. He said, ‘I’ve seen your work. I trust you.’ So it’s a great honor to have been chosen by Abie himself.” 

Sister

Jackie Guerra is the actress who plays Selena’s sister Suzette. She was so eager to get the role that she lied during her audition, saying she knew how to play the drums. She had never played drums a day in her life. Once the producers learned that she didn’t know how to play the drums, the real Suzette gave her private lessons to make her look more believable on screen.

Mom

Actress Constance Marie played Selena’s mother Marcella Quintanilla. In actuality, Marie is just four years older than Lopez and had to wear makeup to make her look older.  Marie says that before the movie came about, she’d never heard of Selena. But that didn’t keep her from auditioning for the title role. In preparation, she started listening to her music and watching her performances and said she became a fan. 15 years after the movie was released, Marie told NBC : “I watched videos of her over and over and became a fan while watching them.Then all of a sudden I had the thought ‘Oh my god, she’s not with us anymore!’ I became a fan and realized she was gone all in a week, and I began to cry.”