View source for Alex Russo

{{Short description|Fictional character on TV sitcom Wizards of Waverly Place, portrayed by Selena Gomez}}
{{Distinguish|Alex Rousseau}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{All plot|date=May 2024}}
{{Coatrack|date=May 2024}}
{{Notability|date=May 2024}}
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{{Infobox character
| name = '''Alex Russo'''
| series = [[Wizards of Waverly Place]]
| image = Alex Russo.jpg
| caption = [[Selena Gomez]] as Alex Russo
| creator = [[Todd J. Greenwald]]
| portrayer = [[Selena Gomez]]
| gender = Female
| nickname = Lexie, Russo, Moxie Finkle, Mija
| first_major = [[Wizards of Waverly Place]]
| first_minor = [[Wizards of Waverly Place season 1#ep1|Crazy 10-Minute Sale]]
| first_date = October 12, 2007
| occupation = Waitress<br />(at the Waverly Sub Station and the Late Nite Bite)<br />Tribeca Prep Student<br />(graduated; seasons 1–4)<br />Wizards Delinquent Teacher's Assistant<br />(season 4)<br />Russo Family Wizard<br />(series finale onwards)
| family = [[List of Wizards of Waverly Place characters#Jerry Russo|Jerry Russo]] (father)<br />[[List of Wizards of Waverly Place characters#Theresa Russo|Theresa Russo]] (mother)<br />[[Justin Russo (Wizards of Waverly Place)|Justin Russo]] (older brother)<br />[[Max Russo]] (younger brother)<br />Hank Russo (paternal grandfather)<br />Rose Russo (paternal grandmother)<br />Magdelena Larkin (maternal grandmother)<br />Kelbo Russo (paternal uncle)<br />Megan Brooke Russo (paternal aunt)<br />Ernesto Larkin (maternal uncle)<br />Janieve Larkin (maternal uncle)<br />Trevor, Graeme and Kim Russo (paternal cousins; all male)<br/> Roman Russo (nephew) <br/> Milo Russo (nephew) <br/> Giada Russo (sister-in-law)
| significant_other = Riley (season 1)<br />Dean Moriarty (season 2)<br />Ronald Longcape, Jr. ("Saving WizTech, Parts 1 & 2")<br />Mason Greyback (season 3–4)
| full_name = Alexandra Margarita Russo
}}

'''Alexandra Margarita''' "'''Alex'''" '''Russo'''<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9-FBDgAAQBAJ&dq=Alexandra+Margarita+Russo&pg=PT98|title=Girlhood on Disney Channel: Branding, Celebrity, and Femininity|last=Blue|first=Morgan Genevieve|publisher=Routledge|year=2017|isbn=9781317365051|location=United Kingdom|via=Google Books}}</ref> is a fictional character and the [[protagonist]] of the [[Disney Channel]] sitcom ''[[Wizards of Waverly Place]]'', portrayed by [[Selena Gomez]]. In 2008, [[AOL]] named her the twentieth greatest [[witch]] in television history.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://television.aol.com/photos/tv-witches |title=AOL – Top TV Witches |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090524080309/http://television.aol.com:80/insidetv/2008/10/20/top-tv-witches/ |archive-date=2009-05-24 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Greenberger |first1=Robert |title=AOL Picks TV's Best Witches |url=http://www.comicmix.com/2008/10/31/aol-picks-tvs-best-witches/ |website=ComicMix |access-date=9 July 2016 |date=31 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402150353/http://www.comicmix.com/2008/10/31/aol-picks-tvs-best-witches/ |archive-date=2 April 2015 }}</ref> Selena Gomez, who plays Alex, is one of the only two cast members to appear in every single episode of the series; the only other cast member to do so is [[David Henrie]], who plays [[Justin Russo (Wizards of Waverly Place)|Justin Russo]]. The character has also appeared in ''[[The Suite Life on Deck]]'' episode, "[[Wizards on Deck with Hannah Montana|Double Crossed]]".

==Fictional character biography ==
''Wizards of Waverly Place'' revolves around Alex Russo and her two brothers, Justin ([[David Henrie]]) and Max ([[Jake T. Austin]]), three siblings of Italian and Mexican descent who train to become their family's wizard and retain their powers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/wizards-of-waverly-place|title=Wizards of Waverly Place : Season 1|website=Metacrtic|access-date=September 12, 2018}}</ref> The siblings reside in Manhattan's Greenwich Village with their parents Jerry ([[David DeLuise]]), a former wizard, and Theresa ([[Maria Canals-Barrera|Maria Canals Barrera]]), a mortal.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web|url=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/wizards-of-waverly-place|title=Wizards of Waverly Place|last=Ashby|first=Emily|date=2007|website=Common Sense Media|access-date=September 12, 2018}}</ref><ref name="av" /> According to the episode "Quinceañera", their daughter, Alex Russo was born on August 10, 1993, in taxi cab 804 in New York City. Alex and her brothers attend classes under the tutelage of their father Jerry, from whom they inherited their magical abilities.<ref name=":9" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ca.ign.com/articles/2009/09/22/wizards-of-waverly-place-review|title=Wizards of Waverly Place|last=Steimer|first=Kristine|date=September 22, 2009|website=IGN|access-date=September 12, 2018}}</ref> The siblings tend to grow unfocused at times, especially pertaining to when they discover that their abilities can be applied towards more non-magical uses.<ref name=":9" /> Additionally, her family owns and runs a subway-themed sandwich shop,<ref name="av" /> and keep the fact that they are wizards a secret from most people outside of their immediate family.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/wizards-waverly-place-158987|title=Wizards of Waverly Place|last=Garron|first=Barry|date=October 12, 2007|website=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=September 12, 2018}}</ref> Alex's best friend is [[Harper Finkle]] ([[Jennifer Stone]]),<ref name=":12">{{Cite web|url=https://abc7chicago.com/archive/6998849/|title=Jennifer Stone of Wizards of Waverly Place|date=September 4, 2009|website=WLS-TV|access-date=September 12, 2018}}</ref> a mortal to whom Alex reveals that she and her family are wizards after a few seasons.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web|url=https://people.com/tv/wizards-of-waverly-place-cast-where-are-they-now/|title=The Wizards of Waverly Place Cast: Where Are They Now?|last=Gavilanes|first=Grace|date=October 12, 2017|website=People|access-date=September 12, 2018}}</ref> Alex and Harper moved into an apartment together in season 4, located on a secret floor and became the home of Alex and Harper for the remainder of the season. Ultimately, Alex must eventually compete against her brothers to determine who will remain the Russo family's only wizard, as only one wizard is allowed per family.<ref name="av" /> Outside of wizardry, Alex is interested in becoming an artist.<ref name=":12" /> At one point, Alex begins dating a werewolf named Mason.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-nov-12-la-et-waverly-20101112-story.html|title=TV review: 'Wizards of Waverly Place'|last=McNamara|first=Mary|date=November 12, 2010|website=Los Angeles Times|access-date=September 12, 2018}}</ref><ref name="pluggedin">{{cite web|last=Asay|first=Paul|title=Wizards of Waverly Place TV Review|url=http://www.pluggedin.com/tv-reviews/wizardsofwaverlyplace/|access-date=July 9, 2016|website=Plugged In}}</ref>

Alex debuts in the pilot episode of ''[[Wizards of Waverly Place]]'', "[[Wizards of Waverly Place (season 1)#ep1|Crazy 10-Minute Sale]]", asking for permission from her father to attend a sale at a popular [[clothing store]], "Suburban Outfitters" (a parody of the popular clothing brand [[Urban Outfitters]]), to upstage her rival since pre-school, Gigi. She cannot attend the sale as she has wizardry class, but decides to [[cloning|clone]] herself so that she can go to the sale and convince her father that she was at wizardry class. However, this plan falls through when her clone is unable to actually speak, and instead barks like a [[dog]] due to a mistake while performing the spell.

Throughout the rest of the first season are similar magical mishaps, most of which are intended to improve things, but typically end up backfiring and causing her to revert them. Alex attends Tribeca Preparatory High School throughout nearly all of the show, a fictional school whose real location is the [[Salk School of Science]].{{citation needed|date=July 2016}} During the first season, Alex also attends WizTech, a fictional wizardry school, once during the summer. Alex is often seen at her family's restaurant, the Waverly Sub Station.

Alex also has a relationship with another student named Riley, which ends quickly after he witnesses her eating large amounts of chocolate, but begins again when she convinces him that she is a good luck charm for their school's baseball team. They finally go on a date during the third to last episode, where Alex shows herself to get jealous too easily, which cause the two to break up. Alex brings life to a mannequin which she pretends to be in a relationship with in order to make Riley jealous, which causes Riley to go back to Alex, only to be replaced with another boy the following season.

The second season continues with a myriad of spells and magic gone awry, the first of which is her joining an academic game at her school called the Quiz Bowl and wearing a pair of pants known as "Smarty Pants" that grant her [[Omniscience|infinite knowledge]]. She wears the pants for too long and ends up having skeleton legs, which are fixed towards the end. Another love interest of Alex's, Dean Moriarty, also makes his debut appearance in this episode, as a new student who is forced to help set up the Quiz Bowl.

Alex's infatuation with Dean is revealed to her nemesis, Gigi, after she steals Alex's magical diary and finds that Alex's "[[knight in shining armor]]" is Dean. Alex reveals this to everyone, including Dean, in order to avoid giving Gigi any sort of satisfaction from doing it herself. The two confess their love for one another during a race which Dean is involved in, and they begin their relationship.

During their relationship, Alex gets involved with another boy from WizTech, Ronald Longcape Jr., after he is forced to leave WizTech due to a "plastic ball infestation". Ronald, after becoming infatuated with Alex himself, shapeshifts into Dean in order to "end" Alex's relationship with them. This causes Alex to start a relationship with Ronald, as it appears to her as her only option. She agrees to go to WizTech with him, where she realizes that Ronald has kidnapped Dean and put him in a block of jelly. Alex realizes that she truly loves Dean, and leaves Ronald. However, the two break up shortly after, then again in Dean's dream, after Alex uses a spell to get into his head.

== Development ==
One of the show's several [[working title]]s before becoming ''Wizards of Waverly Place'' was ''The Amazing O’Malleys'',<ref>{{Cite web|date=2014-12-23|title=9 Things About 'Wizards of Waverly Place' That You Probably Didn't Know|url=http://www.smosh.com/articles/9-things-about-wizards-waverly-place-you-probably-didnt-know|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181112065502/http://www.smosh.com/articles/9-things-about-wizards-waverly-place-you-probably-didnt-know|archive-date=2018-11-12|access-date=2018-09-11|website=[[Smosh]]}}</ref> during which time its main character was originally going to be called Julia, named after creator [[Todd J. Greenwald]]'s own daughter,<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=https://www.seventeen.com/celebrity/movies-tv/a12780058/wizards-of-waverly-place-tenth-anniversary-todd-j-greenwald-interview/|title=Everything You Wanted to Know About "Wizards of Waverly Place" on Its 10th Anniversary|last=Grant|first=Stacey|date=October 12, 2017|website=Seventeen|access-date=September 12, 2018}}</ref> and Brooke O'Malley.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.seventeen.com/celebrity/movies-tv/a32906/things-you-never-knew-about-wizards-of-waverly-place/|title=14 Things You Never Knew About "Wizards of Waverly Place"|last=Rosa|first=Jelani Addams|date=December 15, 2017|website=Seventeen|access-date=September 11, 2018}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.buzznet.com/2017/01/12-things-you-never-knew-about-wizards-of-waverly-place/?chrome=1|title=12 Things You Never Knew About Wizards Of Waverly Place|date=January 24, 2017|website=Buzznet|access-date=September 11, 2018}}</ref> In the series' un-aired pilot, Julia was one of only two Russo children, alongside her brother Jordan.<ref name=":6" /> Julia and Jordan were originally intended to be twin sister and brother until Julia was re-written into the second-born of three Russo siblings.<ref name=":0" /> Greenwald explained that Jordan's name was first changed to Justin to avoid confusion with the ''[[Nickelodeon]]'' show ''[[Just Jordan]]'', thus also changing Julia's name to Alex because he felt that it "wouldn’t have been fair [to my son]".<ref name=":6" /> Greenwald ensured that each Russo sibling was provided with "their own strengths and weaknesses".<ref name=":7" /> Before being cast as the lead character ''Wizards of Waverly Place'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thoughtco.com/selena-gomez-bio-and-facts-2109130|title=The Biography of Actress Selena Gomez|date=September 8, 2017|website=ThoughtCo|access-date=September 11, 2018}}</ref> Gomez's previous auditions for Disney Channel, who discovered the actress during a national talent search,<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/selena-gomez-mn0000996096/biography|title=Selena Gomez – Biography by Matt Collar|last=Collar|first=Matt|website=AllMusic|access-date=September 11, 2018}}</ref> had earned her recurring roles on the network's sitcoms ''[[The Suite Life of Zack & Cody]]'' and ''[[Hannah Montana]]'' as Gwen and Mikayla, respectively.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.contactmusic.com/selena-gomez|title=Selena Gomez|website=Contactmusic.com|access-date=September 11, 2018}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.biography.com/people/selena-gomez-504530|title=Selena Gomez Biography|website=Biography|access-date=September 11, 2016}}</ref> According to [[AllMusic]] biographer Matt Collar, these minor television roles eventually "paved the way for Gomez's own show".<ref name=":5" />

Alex was Gomez's first starring screen role.<ref name=":3" /> Being of Mexican and Italian descent herself, Gomez shares both of the ethnicities of her character,<ref name=":0" /> the only main cast member to hold this distinction.<ref name=":1" /> The writers originally kept the results of the series finale secret from the cast until they began filming the episode.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web|url=http://www.shineon-media.com/2011/12/19/selena-gomez-david-henrie-interview-wizards-of-waverly-place-series-finale-video/|title=Selena Gomez & David Henrie Interview: "Wizards of Waverly Place" Series Finale (Video)|last=Hiser|first=Lisa|date=December 19, 2011|website=Shine On Media|access-date=September 12, 2018}}</ref> Gomez originally felt that Max should be the ultimate winner of the Triwizard Cup instead of her own character.<ref name=":0" /> However, the actress was ultimately satisfied with the direction in which the writers ultimately went.<ref name=":8" /> Gomez and her on-screen siblings were each allowed to retain their characters' wands after the series' conclusion.<ref name=":8" /> In addition to starring in the series, Gomez contributed four original songs to the shows' official soundtrack album,<ref name=":2" /> including its theme song "Everything Is Not as It Seems".<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Selena-Gomez|title=Selena Gomez|last=Cunningham|first=John M.|date=July 18, 2018|website=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=September 11, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/wizards-of-waverly-place-songs-from-and-inspired-by-the-hit-tv-series-mw0000819980|title=Various Artists – Wizards of Waverly Place: Songs from and Inspired by the Hit TV Series|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|date=August 4, 2009|website=AllMusic|access-date=September 12, 2018}}</ref> In addition to reprising her role as Alex in the television film ''[[The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex]]'' (2013), Gomez served as one of its executive producers.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/12/jennifer-stone-of-wizards_n_2821410.html|title=Jennifer Stone Talks 'The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex' And Selena Gomez As Executive Producer|date=March 14, 2013|website=HuffPost|access-date=September 12, 2018}}</ref> Stone described Gomez's approach to executive producing as "not really that different, she has a little bit more say in what happens ... She has a great sense of humor about herself, so we give her tons of crap."<ref name=":11" />

==Characterization and themes==
John M. Cunningham of ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]'' described Alex as "a mischievous [[tomboy]]".<ref name=":4" /> Marah Eaken of ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' described Alex as a "pretty dark" character who is "dry, lazy, and kind of a jerk, sometimes."<ref name="av">{{cite web|url=http://www.avclub.com/tvclub/iwizards-of-waverly-placei-52095|title=Wizards Of Waverly Place|last1=Eaken|first1=Marah|date=February 28, 2011|website=The A.V. Club|access-date=July 9, 2016}}</ref> —describing Alex as "a wisecracking underachiever" keen on using her magical abilities to "smooth the path through high school". ''[[Plugged In (publication)|Plugged In]]'''s Paul Asay identified the character as "a Disney protagonist with a hint of rebellion—Cinderella with a yen for detention", demonstrated by her "slouching, too-cool-for-school vibe."<ref name="pluggedin" /> While under a truth spell, the character explains that her attitude is simply "a defense mechanism to hide my desire to really be liked."<ref name="pluggedin" /> Alex's personality strongly contrasts with that of her older brother, who unlike her is studious and hardworking.<ref name="pluggedin" />

Although a bit rude to others at times, Alex is shown throughout the show to be a good person at heart. DVDizzy's Kelvin Cedeno writes that, "Alex is a character that could, and should, be off-putting in her narrow-mindedness and egotism. In spite of this, Selena Gomez manages to be likable and approachable in the role."<ref name="dvdizzy">{{cite web|last1=Cedeno|first1=Kelvin|title=Wizards of Waverly Place: Supernaturally Stylin' DVD Review|url=http://www.dvdizzy.com/wizardsofwaverlyplace-supernaturally.html|website=DVDizzy|access-date=9 July 2016}}</ref>

Alex often uses magic to solve her problems, which frequently ends up causing more problems than she began with. DVDizzy claimed that Alex was "cocky, self-assured, and constantly relies on magic to bail her out of mishaps".<ref name="dvdizzy" /> Alex underachieves when it comes to high school, however, she excels greatly at art. She is also shown to be only semi-literate, when it is revealed that she has never fully read a book or a menu.

Alex is the middle child and the only female of the Russo children. She often argues with and insults her older brother, Justin, though it is later revealed that she does so because she admires him and wishes to be like him. The fact that her parents seem to favor Justin in most cases also engenders hostility and jealousy toward her brother. Alex and Justin act as foils, as the two are near-[[wikt:polar opposite|polar opposite]]s; Justin is responsible and fair in judgment, though easily insecure at Alex's great magical feats. She feels insecure when seeing Justin accomplish much with his hard work and responsibility. She is shown not to be the most apt student at both "wizarding" and [[Secondary school|high]] school, failing her Spanish midterm, her wizardry exam, and relying on the use of magic to pass several assignments. [[Mary McNamara]], writing for the ''Los Angeles Times'', identified that Alex is driven "to become the family wizard, not so much for the power and prestige as the satisfaction of beating out her older brother Justin."<ref name=":7" />

Despite her flaws, Alex has numerous instances of [[generosity]], [[loyalty]], and [[compassion]]. She shows deep care for her best friend [[List of Wizards of Waverly Place characters#Harper Finkle|Harper]], even going as far as to reveal to her her wizardry in "[[Wizards of Waverly Place (season 2)#ep29|Harper Knows]]" out of guilt for lying. Alex is shown to hate "fake people" and silent films.

== Reception ==
Gomez's performance as Alex garnered strong reviews, including positive comparisons to actress and singer [[Miley Cyrus]], star of ''Hannah Montana''. Plugged In's Paul Asay wrote that Alex "has proven to be a less than ideal role model for her hordes of young Disneyfied fans" as a result of her personality, but concluded that the character "is still pretty good deep down" despite "her posturing".<ref name="pluggedin" /><ref name=":4" /> The ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' television critic [[Mary McNamara]] described Gomez as "sweet and sassy, with a lovely elastic face and great comic timing".<ref name=":7" /> Alex is considered to be Gomez's [[breakout role]].<ref name=":10" /> According to John M. Cunningham's entry on Gomez in ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]'', the actress' role as Alex earned her "legions of young fans as [its] winsome star".<ref name=":4" />

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==

{{Wizards of Waverly Place}}
{{Selena Gomez}}

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