In "The Cell,"Lopez plays a child psychiatrist involved in a high-tech
experiment, which allows her to enter the dreams and fantasies of her
clients. A FBI agent played by Vince Vaughn convinces Lopez to explore the
weird and dangerous fantasy world of a serial killer (Vincent D'Onofrio)
hoping to save his latest victim. It is the most complex and daring role
that the actress has taken but the elaborate world of fantasy with its
intricate, ornate costumes seem will suited for one of the sexiest young
woman in the movies today.
"When I read it, it was more like a 'Silence of the Lambs.' That's how
it read but you knew that there was more artistic license to go places in the
dream sequences and that was going to be up to the director," explained
Lopez. "So, when Tarsem [Singh] came on and he started showing me the visual
references that he had, I thought, wow, this is going to be freaky."
Lopez's career has skyrocketed since she appeared in the biopic, "Selena"
based on the tragic story of Mexican-American singer, Selena Quintanilla. In
that heart-warming performance, Lopez not only delighted fans of the murdered
young woman but also proved that she act. Not bad for a former Fly Girl on
TV's "In Loving Color." She went from being a pretty but largely ignored
beauty opposite Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson in "Money Train"to the
devilish bombshells in "Blood and Wine"opposite Jack Nicholson and "U Turn"
opposite Sean Penn and Nick Nolte. In the pop hit, "Anaconda" opposite Ice
Cube, Lopez proved once again to be box office gold but it was her portrayal
of a sexy cop who falls in love with an ex-con, George Clooney in "Out of
Sight"that confirmed her place on the A-List of top Hollywood actresses. No
one could deny that Jennifer Lopez had mesmerizing star power. What they
couldn't predict was her gift as a musical talent as well.
During the past eighteen months, Lopez says that while she worked on
three movies - "The Wedding Planner," "Angel Eyes" and "The Cell,"she didn't
feel the real impact of her hit album, "On the 6." The new record, "A
Passionate Journey"is due out in November and it will reflect more of her
recent life. "You always write about things that are personal to you or that
you've experienced. But you also see what's in the world and what your girls
experience, and you write about that stuff, too," she declared. "Girls - all
they do is get in a room and talk about relationships - all the time. That's
kind of what the album is about - those different things that a relationship
goes through - the different moods, the ups and downs."
Nevertheless, Lopez shies away from talk about her famous boyfriend Sean
"Puffy" Combs and his recent troubles. "It's a private thing. We have a
relationship right now and we'll see what happens," she says still amazed
that everyone's more interested in her personal life rather than her work.
"It does not occur to you that this will happen when you're working to be an
actress. It's a huge shock and it's really actually kind of scary. There's
an adjustment period and then you just learn how to cope [because] they don't
really know who I am. They never will. That's OK. I know who I am. So,
does my family."
Lopez says that after "Selena," came out, the stories in the Spanish
press were so horrific that the effect on her marriage was lethal. "He was
Cuban and a regular guy. He just couldn't deal with it." Recent tabloid
reports about her demands for elaborate 250 thread sheets in her hotel rooms,
Puffy Combs buying her parents a multi-million dollar house and her billion
dollar body insurance only make her laugh now. Obviously, dating someone who
is also a public figure and a working artist has its benefits. "It's not
that it doesn't bother him also. All the things that are written about him
- and [they] are fabricated too, it's hard. But, you learn to cope."
She does admit that the couple have discussed the kissing scenes that
each has to do either in movies or video. "It's just weird. I don't like to
see the person I'm with kissing somebody else - when he does videos and
stuff. I'm like ill. And, when I do my stuff, it's the same thing. It's
just too freaky. I think that every actor will tell you that."
So, what is the best thing about fame? Without hesitation, she responds,
"The clothes!" Lopez loves to shop and she doesn't mind being recognized as
long as fans stay calm. "Puff hates that. You have to go out with
security," she mimics his voice. "He's always on my-- I don't like
[bodyguards]. I like to be a normal person and do my thing."
