Jennifer Lopez worked with ex-husband Ben Affleck on her most recent film years after their Gigli collaboration. The experience seemed much more rewarding than her and Affleck’s previous efforts, forcing the Hustlers star to go to places few films did.
Jennifer Lopez revealed what it was like filming ‘Unstoppable’
Unstoppable couldn’t have been further different from her and Affleck’s Gigli. The former couple didn’t work on-screen when developing the project. Instead, Affleck, alongside his longtime best friend Matt Damon, helped produce the movie. Lopez was cast as mother Judy Robles in the flick, who helps her physically disabled son pursue his sports aspirations. And for the megastar, there were plenty of reasons to be excited for the film.
“It’s not often that you have a movie like this,” Lopez said in an interview with Variety. “I identified with her. I understood the upbringing they had, the struggles, the relationships, and the sacrifices Judy made for her son. She realized, early on, that if she didn’t accept her child, how would he ever accept himself? That moment of love and growth — it’s universal.”
But taking on the role meant Lopez had to go through her own personal changes as well. Seeing as she was depicting a real person in the film, Lopez had to remove most traces of herself to do the part justice.
“It was an honor to be a part of Anthony [Robles] and to play Judy,” Lopez told Amazon (via In Touch). “I approached the role with a complete lack of ego where you have to go in there and have so much respect for the person you are playing because it’s her story.”
Because of this, Lopez considered playing Judy her most immersive role yet.
“I disappeared, there was no Jennifer, no J. Lo. That person on the screen is just Judy. Luckily, I got to spend time with her and see who she was alone and as a mother,” she said.
How Jennifer Lopez reacted to Ben Affleck complimenting her performance
Affleck and Lopez may not be on the best terms now. But that didn’t stop Affleck from singing his ex-wife’s praises.
“Jennifer is spectacular,” Affleck simply told Entertainment Tonight.
As much as he thought Lopez might’ve shined in the film, The Town star felt Unstoppable was a movie where the entire cast brought their A-game.
“Unstoppable is a very different movie than this, but in a way, it’s similarly rooted in the passion of really talented artists. [Director] Billy Goldenberg and Jennifer and Don Cheadle and Jharrel and Bobby Cannavale, all were really passionate about this film,” Affleck added.
When a red carpet interviewer asked Lopez about Affleck’s comments, a modest Lopez felt Affleck’s compliment could be said about the whole cast.
“I would describe all of the cast and everybody behind the scenes as spectacular and wonderful,” she said.
Jennifer Lopez was excited about working with Ben Affleck again after ‘Gigli’ debacle
Despite its reputation, Lopez and Affleck often looked back at Gigli fondly. It was where the two first met, and was the feature that kicked off a whirlwind romance. But it was also partially the reason for Affleck’s and Lopez’s relationship being demonized the way that it was in the 2000s. Gigli played into a growing public sentiment that the pair shoved their relationship into the audience’s faces. However, Lopez and Affleck more than looked forward to working together again in the second phase of their relationship. In an interview with Variety, the Maid in Manhattan star made it sound like their collaboration was only a matter of time.
“Maybe, maybe! Absolutely,” Lopez said. “We talk. We love being together and working together so, yeah, you never know.”
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