OFM Feature - JenniferLopez - FINAL_Pages 9 / 20 / 19 4 : 49 PM Page 3 J . L O Q & A T H E P A Y O F F where they will cross the line . The last TV show makes me realize how different men are from You’ve spoken over the past year about feeling that I did , Shades of Blue , was also very much women even at a young age . much stronger and having a renewed sense of like that and it’s interesting to me why people do direction in life . What have you learned about what they do . You’ve stated in the past that you don’t pre - yourself that has brought about this change ? There is also no judgement in this film and tend to be a superwoman when it comes to Oh my God , so many things . I continue to learn when I read the script , this was very much some - looking after your children . about myself and try to keep evolving as a thing which came across . I get a lot of scripts It’s been a long while that I’ve accepted that I woman and as a person and as a human being . that I have to choose between , and I just felt that can’t be with them as much as I would like . But But I think that the most important lesson I’ve this was a good and gritty role for me . I’m not alone as a working mother when it learned is to love yourself first . It’s also something which felt a little scary to comes to that . I am very conscious of trying to me , I will tell you the truth about it . It was a be as hands - on a mom as I can possibly be . You’ve always stated that you have a fierce pretty scary role for me to take on because I have They’re very happy and well - adjusted kids and work ethic . Where do you get that drive and never really exposed myself in this way , emotion - I’m so proud of them and they always come first determination from ? ally . I have also never before played a character in my life . It’s up to me to figure out the best My mother and grandmother have been great like that ; I am used to playing roles in romantic way of making them feel loved and secure . … I role models for me . My mom was the one who comedies and I am almost always a good person take it one day at a time . taught me that if you worked hard in life then on the good side of the law . you can achieve your dreams . My mom and dad Whereas with this movie , the role with re - In preparation for your new movie , Hustlers , both worked different jobs so we could have a gards to the line between good and bad was a lit - is it true you went to a strip club in the Bronx ? better life and I really appreciated how they ac - tle bit blurred , like when I played Harley from Yeah , I went to the city to Scores , and what you cepted their responsibilities and never com - Shades of Blue . In that , I played a good person do as an actress is observe . I was really just trying plained . You learn that if you want to be success - who was doing bad things . It makes you realize to soak up behavior , the feel of the place , the at - ful at anything , you’re going to have to work for that quite a lot of people are like that in real life . mosphere in there . it . No one is going to give it to you . We are good people — and most people are There was real money there , as opposed to My mom gave me all her support when I good — but we do things considered to be bad , chips or silver dollars . I was watching how they was starting out [ in show business ] but she also sometimes . did lap dances , how different girls performed on told me that she didn’t want to hear me crying stage . I was looking at how they interacted with or complaining about my choice to be a per - How did you convince Cardi B to be in the each other , how their attitude was . What I got former . She also impressed upon me the need to movie ? from just seeing what was going on was that they be very independent and learn to take care of I called her up and told her I was doing this film were happy and that they were pulling off a cer - yourself . She helped me to believe in myself . So which I was starring in and producing and told tain atmosphere . all those things have been important in helping her that she could have done any role . It was Then , I was trying to talk to some of them me succeed and accomplish things I always more about her time commitments and I under - and tried to see what they really thought about dreamed of doing . stood that she has a lot of things going on right being there , working there . now . She told me that she had never done a You’re a very devoted mother to your twins movie and we just talked about it . The theme of the film seems like it’s a very and very dedicated when it comes to your I told her what the movie was about , and I empowering one for women . Is that how you work . Do you ever find time to relax ? didn’t know if she knew about things like this see it ? Not very often ! [ Laughs ] I try to make some and she told me that she came from that world I think sometimes in the movies , when you get time for myself at night . I like taking long baths and that she understood it . So , I told her that famous people in the press acting , they want to with candles and special aromas . I also enjoy get - she didn’t need to get an acting coach as I make it about the person . With this film , this is ting massages and spending time by myself with wanted her to just do what she did , because I me playing a role and this is us telling stories no phones or any interruptions . A lot of little didn’t want her to get out of her comfort zone , about slices of life and that’s how I see this piece . things . either . For example , with the film Goodfellas , you saw a Those are the moments where I can think a So , I felt that she was better at this than I movie that went inside the Mafia . You delve into bit and just enjoy being by myself the way I used was , and I wanted to pick her brain , so we did that world , which is an underground one that to be able to when I was younger . But it’s not as have a conversation about it , about that type of you don’t know about and there are things that if I’m ever going to have a whole week to myself . life and what it was like and what it did for her . I are going on . But I’m used to being active and I enjoy my wanted to know how she felt in that life and she I see this movie pretty much the same where work and doing a lot of different creative things . was very happy to be a part of it , although she we go into the world and we see it from a I need that . didn’t know how big a part of it , she could be . woman’s point of view . We see what it’s like and As your children grow up , they become But she signed on and that was a great thing . we see the things that they do , you see what more independent and you can let them be on makes them feel empowered and what makes their own more and as twins there’s a close con - What did you learn about these women who them kind of desperate — it’s a myriad of com - nection between them . But it’s so beautiful for are in these complex situations ? plex emotions and many levels and layers of me to watch Emme and Max develop their own They are hustlers , but it’s hard to talk about it things going on in this story . interests and explore their individual creativity . and I think people would be better off watching I find that very interesting , for example what It’s interesting to see how they’re very different the movie . If I was to start talking about some of people will do and what they won’t do — we see from each other , also . the situations , they may come across a little Emme is kind of quieter , she’s always draw - weird or out of context . It is going to be a very ing , and loves to play with my shoes . Max never interesting film , and it’s also sexy and cool and it stands still and is always up to some mischief . has all of those things that you want . They’re total opposites . Just watching them O F M 2 6