|
Lopez is often cast as
the femme fatale -- due in no small part to her
classic Latina beauty (she was born in the Bronx to
parents of Puerto Rican descent) -- and has worked
almost exclusively with acclaimed directors: Francis
Ford Coppola (Jack, 1996), Oliver Stone (U Turn,
1997), and Bob Rafelson (Blood and Wine, 1996). In
1998, she had one of her most popular roles to date
starring opposite George Clooney in Steven
Soderbergh's adaptation of Elmore Leonard's Out of
Sight. Cast as a deputy federal marshal who falls
for a charming criminal (Clooney), Lopez won raves
for her tough, sexy performance, and in the process,
she became the highest paid Latina actress in
Hollywood history.
That same year, she
earned an introduction to a new generation of fans
by lending her voice to the popular Antz
(1998). The lavish but much more adult oriented
thriller The Cell (2000) followed shortly
thereafter, and after chasing a vicious serial
killer in the popular film Lopez lightened things up
a bit opposite Matthew McConaughey in the romantic
comedy The Wedding Planner. Consistantly smooth in
her frequent transitions from actress to
song-stress, Lopez's next role in the supernatural
romance Angel Eyes failed to click with audiences
and critics alike, with her role in the cathartic
revenge thriller Enough likewise disappearing from
theaters shortly after it's release. Though Maid in
Manhattan was ultimately relegated to a similar fate
as her last few films, few could anticipate the
outright hostility with which her 2003 comedy Gigli
would be greeted.
Cast as a female
gangster assigned to keep an eye on a kidnapper
(played by real life boyfriend Ben Affleck) who is
holding a psychologically challenged young boy
hostage, the public backlash was likely due (at
least in part) to over-saturated media coverage of
the duo's tumultuous off-screen relationship. Though
the film's failure wasn't exactly what one would
call a career ender for either star, their shoddy
onscreen dynamic left many wondering if director
Kevin Smith's upcoming comedy Jersey Girl (also
starring Affleck and Lopez) was already doomed
months before it hit the multiplexes.
In addition to her
screen work, Lopez has also made news with her
successful singing career on the dance/Latin pop
circuit. In December of 1999, she made news of a
different sort when, following an altercation at a
Manhattan night club, she and Sean "Puffy"
Combs were involved in a high speed chase with the
police that resulted in both of their arrests. After
spending 14 hours in jail, Lopez was cleared of any
criminal wrongdoing. |
