Hillary Duff backs Selena Gomez to overcome problems

Hillary Duff has backed Selena Gomez to bounce back after taking a career break for the sake of her mental health.

The actress and singer, 29, believes her fellow Disney alumni Selena, 24, who recently announced she was taking a break from music because of anxiety and panic attacks caused by the disease lupus, is someone who's had it tougher than most.

However Hillary said Selena's musical talent and the love of her fans would eventually see her recover and resume her career.

"I think the saving grace is, she (Selena Gomez) makes great music," she told broadcaster Jennifer Koppelman Hutt on her Just Jenny podcast. "Tons of people love her... The public is smart to gossip magazines and that they're just trying to make money. At the end of the day they love those people and they love their music."

Outlining the differences between now and when she rose to fame in TV series Lizzie Maguire, Hillary said, "I think it's hard. I just feel for them. God, how do I answer that? It was just a different time for me.

"When I was just coming onto the scene, it was when all the gossip and stuff started. But now it's such an extreme level and there's such a focus on personal life. It must really be a tough struggle. I feel it, and I'm not dealing with it on the level they're dealing with it on."

In August (16), Selena announced she was taking a break from music and social media. "As many of you know, around a year ago I revealed that I have lupus, an illness that can affect people in different ways," she said in a statement to Entertainment Tonight. "I've discovered that anxiety, panic attacks and depression can be side effects of lupus, which can present their own challenges. I want to be proactive and focus on maintaining my health and happiness and have decided that the best way forward is to take some time off."