Developing Her Character’s Look and Wardrobe: “That’s one of the fun things about acting is, you know, you get to build the character from the ground up. And always the wardrobe and the hair and the make-up is very important for the look, because once you slip into that, you know what I mean, it’s, you know, it really makes you feel that you’re walking in the shoes of somebody else. You start walking different. It’s the same thing if you put on a pair of heels and a sexy dress. The way you walk is very different than if you have your sneakers on and your jeans. It’s the same premise as when you’re…working with a character. You wear a different type of shirt, or you know, go with different whimsy for this character. I wanted her to have like a little weird whimsiness to her clothing, like long dresses with jeans underneath, or whatever it was, to kind of show that she did things just a little different.”
Jennifer Lopez on Being Hounded by the Paparazzi: “Well it’s just surprising to me how aggressive they’re these days. I mean yesterday on the way home we almost got into an accident. It’s crazy. It’s just crazy. I’m astounded myself by the - the kind of - the aggressiveness that they have these days and it’s just getting worse and worse and worse. Sometimes I feel like it’s a game, like they’re playing cops and robbers and they’re spies and there’s these, like… It’s crazy.”
Finding Her Inspiration: “I think my mom was very integral in that part of my life because she just kind of made us believe that we could do anything. She always was very big on us being independent, not having to depend on any man, not having to depend on anybody, you know, just being able to kind of survive on your own no matter what. And one of the things that went along with that was working hard - always working hard. And they were great examples. My dad worked nights most of my life. My mom worked at the school and had a Tupperware job. That was how our upbringing was, so work was always a very big part of my life. She really, really made us believe, like I said, that we could do anything. You know, like I said, we could be the President of the United States if we wanted to, if we worked hard enough. You know, a Puerto Rican girl from New York and you know what I mean? It seems so far-fetched but when people make you believe that, you do. You’re less afraid to try things anyway.”
Jennifer Lopez on Her Movies That Haven’t Been Well-Received: “You know I always felt like as an actress my job was to do good work and I’ve been able to keep doing that - improving myself in my movies. You know, you don’t have control over this type of thing. You try to pick the best material you can that you can get your hands on - it’s a very competitive business - then you do your best in that movie, and you hope for the best.
I’ve done about 20 movies now and I don’t know [anyone with] an active career [where] every movie they do is great. It’s like this: you have one and then you have 5 and then you have one and then you have 10. You know what I mean? If you’re lucky enough to be around doing it that long. I just feel fortunate to be able to be still doing it, that my work has been something that people still believe in. I think so long as I keep challenging myself, and that’s what I plan to do, keep challenging myself and doing good work and doing the best that I can in that movie, then you know, I think I’ll be okay. So hopefully I’ll have some great classics along the way and be able to make that one movie that everybody will remember. Who knows? We’ll see. It’s very early in my career. We’ll have to wait.”
The Intimidation Factor: “You’re not beyond being intimidated by people, I don’t think, ever. You know, especially when you respect them and you know their name, you know who they are. It doesn’t intimidate me to the point where I can’t do what I have to do, that’s for sure. I’ve been in the business long enough for that. I know I’m there to do a job and I’m being paid and there’s something that’s expected of me.
But, you know, you do get the butterflies when Jane Fonda walks in the room, or if Jack Nicholson walks in the room. You’re like, 'Holy shit, it’s Jane Fonda.' You can’t help that...because you’re used to seeing them like huge on the big screen, and all that kind of stuff.”
