Jennifer Lopez debuts her new documentary Halftime, where she reflects on her legendary career, including that she almost quit.
The 52-year-old actress/singer/dancer helped forge a path for other Latina actresses to follow, becoming the first actress to earn over $1 million for her role in Selena.
With fame came increased scrutiny over her curvy frame, as she revealed in the documentary, debuting Tuesday on Netflix, that the criticism was so intense she had thoughts of quitting showbiz altogether.
Reflect: Jennifer Lopez debuts her new documentary Halftime, where she reflects on her legendary career, including that she almost quit
Scrutiny: With fame came increased scrutiny over her curvy frame, as she revealed in the documentary, debuting Tuesday on Netflix, that the criticism was so intense she had thoughts of quitting showbiz altogether
‘There were many times where I was just like, I think I’m just going to quit. I had to really figure out who I was. And believe in that and not believe in anything else,’ Lopez admitted.
Her curvy body type was far from the norm when Lopez burst onto the scene with Selena.
‘When I started working, the beauty ideal was very thin, blonde, tall, not a lot of curves,’ Lopez said.
Almost quit: ‘There were many times where I was just like, I think I’m just going to quit. I had to really figure out who I was. And believe in that and not believe in anything else,’ Lopez admitted
Quit: ‘There were many times where I was just like, I think I’m just going to quit. I had to really figure out who I was. And believe in that and not believe in anything else,’ Lopez admitted
‘I grew up around women with curves so it was nothing I was ever ashamed of. It was hard, when you think people think you’re a joke — like a punchline,’ she admitted.
‘But it wound up affecting things in a way that I never intended,’ she said, adding that her then-fiance Ben Affleck was surprised at the criticism.
Affleck said in the documentary, ‘I said to her once, “Doesn’t this bother you?” And she said, “I’m Latina, I’m a woman, I expected this.”‘
Not ashamed: ‘I grew up around women with curves so it was nothing I was ever ashamed of. It was hard, when you think people think you’re a joke — like a punchline,’ she admitted
Affecting: ‘But it wound up affecting things in a way that I never intended,’ she said, adding that her then-fiance Ben Affleck was surprised at the criticism
She also opened up about how hard it was to get back to work after her divorce from Marc Anthony as a single mom with two kids.
‘As an artist I lost a little bit of who I was in trying to build a perfect life, and when my kids were three, I got divorced and I was a single mum with two little kids,’ she said.
‘At 42, movie roles were not knocking on my door. As I was getting back to work, I really felt like I didn’t know what my value was any more,’ she said,
Single mom: She also opened up about how hard it was to get back to work after her divorce from Marc Anthony as a single mom with two kids
Divorced: ‘As an artist I lost a little bit of who I was in trying to build a perfect life, and when my kids were three, I got divorced and I was a single mum with two little kids,’ she said
She revealed that American Idol was, ‘the first big job I did after I had my babies and it was good for me at that time — people could see me for who I was and that changed everything.’
Her career resurgence was thrust into the forefront with her critically-acclaimed turn in the 2019 film Hustlers.
While she was heavily expected to earn her first Oscar nomination for the film, she didn’t earn one, though she dreamt that she did.
‘I dreamt that it happened. And when I woke up I realized it was a dream,’ she admitted.
Idol: She revealed that American Idol was, ‘the first big job I did after I had my babies and it was good for me at that time — people could see me for who I was and that changed everything’
Resurgence: Her career resurgence was thrust into the forefront with her critically-acclaimed turn in the 2019 film Hustlers
