Jennifer Lopez Shares Lost 90s Movie Role to Madonna After Intense Prep
Jennifer Lopez Shares Her Journey to the Big Screen
Jennifer Lopez is currently in the spotlight as she promotes her new movie musical, Kiss of the Spider Woman, which is set to debut in theaters this month. During a recent Q&A session for the film, Lopez shared a surprising revelation about her career that left fans intrigued. She revealed that she once had the chance to land a major role in a 1990s movie but ultimately lost it to another pop icon—Madonna.
A Lost Opportunity in the 1990s
Lopez, now 56, recalled auditioning for the 1996 film adaptation of Evita, directed by Alan Parker. The role, which was eventually given to Madonna, was one that Lopez had been eager to land. “I went to audition for Evita,” she explained. “I had been practicing for weeks and I sang my heart out, and he goes, ‘You’re amazing. You know Madonna has the part, right?’”
Lopez laughed as she added, “I said, ‘OK, bye-bye. Nice to meet you.’”
Madonna’s performance in Evita earned her a Golden Globe, and the film was also nominated for five Oscars, winning for Best Original Song at the 1997 Academy Awards. Despite the setback, Lopez has since spoken about the experience in interviews, including one with The Hollywood Reporter in January. She mentioned that she had also auditioned for other musicals like Chicago and Nine, coming close on Nine.
From Lost Auditions to a Dream Role
Nearly 30 years after her failed Evita audition, Lopez is finally starring in her first movie musical, Kiss of the Spider Woman. Originally a critically acclaimed non-musical drama from 1985, the film was nominated for four Oscars, including Best Picture, and won the Oscar for Best Actor for William Hurt.
The story follows ValentÃn, a political prisoner who shares a cell with Molina, a man convicted for public indecency. As they form an unlikely bond, Molina recounts a Hollywood musical plot, which becomes central to their relationship. The new version of Kiss of the Spider Woman is based on the 1993 Broadway musical, which featured Chita Rivera in the title role.
In the film, Lopez plays Aurora, an actress who stars in the musical that Molina tells his cellmate about. The two men, played by Diego Luna and Tonatiuh, develop a deep emotional connection through the fantasy as the movie unfolds.
A Breakthrough Performance
Critics are already raving about Lopez’s performance in Kiss of the Spider Woman, calling it a standout moment in her career. She is even generating Oscar buzz for her work, which would be a significant milestone for her, as she has never been nominated for an Academy Award despite several close calls over the years.
“I had never seen Kiss of the Spider Woman on stage or the original films from the ’80s,” Lopez told Extra. “When I read it, I was just like, ‘I can’t believe I was laughing. I was crying, I was reading it out loud, and I knew it was something like I had been waiting for my whole life, a role like this.’”
At the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, Lopez fought back tears when the movie received a standing ovation. “I’ve been waiting for this moment my whole life,” she said. “The reason I even wanted to be in this business is because my mom would sit me in front of the TV and West Side Story would come on once a year. I was mesmerized and was like, ‘That’s what I want to do.’ This is the first time I actually got to do it.”
A New Chapter for Jennifer Lopez
After missing out on the role of Eva Perón in Evita, Lopez has found her perfect part in Kiss of the Spider Woman. The film hits theaters on October 10, and it promises to be a defining moment in her career. Fans are eager to see how her performance will be received and whether it could lead to an Oscar nomination. For now, Lopez seems to have found the role she has been waiting for all her life.
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