Embed from Getty Images
People Magazine has a new panel interview with Jennifer Lopez conducted at a screening of her upcoming film, Second Act. It features Lopez’s real life best friend, Leah Remini, and also costars Milo Ventimiglia and Vanessa Hudgens. It’s about a woman from a working class background who gets a high powered executive job thanks to a fake resume. You can see the trailer below, it made me laugh a few times. I doubt I’ll be seeing this in the theater are it’s out the end of December and there are so many other movies I want to see then. It looks like a cute rental though, and it’s the kind of film that Lopez does well. She has broad appeal and she comes across as genuine on screen. Lopez is one of those rare celebrities who can dance, sing and act, but it didn’t all come easily to her. She told the panel that she had self doubt at the beginning of her career when she took critics seriously. She then decided that she wasn’t going to pay attention to that, she told herself she was good at everything and she focused on working hard. After that it all came together for her. This is really good advice.
“You know, I’ve really become — and I think from being in this business, I don’t let the opinion of others really influence how I think about myself,” Lopez told the event’s moderator, Full Picture CEO Desiree Gruber. “And that took a long time. Because in the early party of my career, I did, and it made me feel really bad about myself.”
While the singer and actress was experiencing massive success with her debut film Selena and her debut album On the 6, Lopez said she received criticism that made her doubt her talents.
“I’m killing it, and then everybody’s like, ‘She can’t sing, she can’t dance, she can’t act, she’s just some pretty face or her butt is big’ or whatever they were saying about me and I started thinking, ‘Yeah, that’s true,’” she recalled. “And it really hurt me for a long time.”
Despite feeling down about the backlash, Lopez she “just kept going.”
“I just couldn’t allow myself to let that become who I was. I was like, ‘No, I’m gonna make another record, I’m gonna make another song, I’m gonna make another movie,’” she shared. “‘I’m a great actress, I’m a great singer, a great dancer, I’m great at this stuff! And I’m gonna keep going!’ And I did. And that’s all I did. I just kept going. And I just started working harder and harder than everybody else.”
“I started believing in myself,” she added. “I started believing in the fact that I wasn’t an imposter, that I wasn’t a fake.”
Lopez is drawing parallels to her Second Act character, Maya, whose journey involves believing in herself and her abilities. I didn’t know the term “imposter syndrome” until Viola Davis talked about it last year, but I was knew the concept of course. You think you’re not good enough to be successful or that other people are better than you are. I really like the simplicity in Lopez’s message and it’s a powerful one. She also said that she makes sure she talks to herself kindly, like a good roommate. I actually try to do this. Whenever I start to feel badly about myself or if I’m fixated on something I think “what would you tell your best friend?” and try to consider it from that perspective. I would never talk to a friend the way I talk to myself sometimes.
Here’s the Second Act trailer. I keep think it’s called Sister Act.
Sometimes you can believe your own hype and need a reality check though.
Photos credit: Getty, WENN and Backgrid
What a great post!! Love this. You and Jennifer just gave great advice. Thank you!
Yes, I wish I had heard or read encouragement like this when I was twice promoted at work for jobs that on paper were too big for me and my experience. I faced resentment from co-workers and lots of self doubt. Thankfully I had one female mentor who was encouraging from somewhat of a distance but it was rough for a while. I eventually figured out something that I tell so many people who are doubting or struggling — we are all just making it up as we go along.
What a great message and it works! She’s on top of the world. I actually am the same, at work I’m like I think I’m the most valuable person here and so I went to my boss and named my price and I got a raise! They can’t afford replacing me, you gotta believe your hype. Long live JLo!
This is similar to the plot of “Don’t Tell Mom, The Babysitter’s Dead” starring Christina Applegate.
I have also experienced “imposter syndrome” in my career. I’m sure men experience this too, but maybe differently? I think for women, internalized misogyny is a part of it. That feeling of, I don’t deserve this, I’m not good enough. But we ARE good enough and we DO deserve it. Sometimes we just need a hint of validation, whether that comes from within ourselves or from others. JL is inspiring.
YEA ” Working Girl, Don’t Tell Mom, The Babysitter’s Dead”
yep, thats it.
She can’t act and she can’t sing though
The great, late Roger Ebert saying she was one of his favorite actresses would beg to differ on her acting.
Coming as a surprise to no one (who have read my take on JLo before), I love her and this advice. She’s a great actress, dancer and singer, in descending order. There were certainly times, live, that she’s not hitting each note and she still has a great overall quality. I admire that she often takes the live singing route, especially combined with dancing, which will make most people out of breath. She works so hard. I’m going to try to improve my self-talk too. Celebitchy is right in that I tell myself harsher things that I’d never say to anyone else.
@lily completely agree with you! Thank you for coming with the hammer of truth.
I think she’s actually a really good and underrated actress, i adored her in Out of Sight – her chemistry with Clooney was palpable. I also love her in Anaconda that film is hilarious.
I’ve heard a number of extremely talented actors talk about having imposter syndrome. I find it kind of funny of all people, JLo doesn’t have it!
Personally I don’t think she’s a great actor or singer, but I do admire the hell out of her ambition and work ethic. She has so many deals and jobs and businesses, she’s got her own little empire.
I think there are two reasons why she’s often not seen seriously, as a “good actor.” First, her (speaking) voice is very soft and high, and second she never really found the right co-star. Clooney was the only one that “fitted” her.
I love love LOVE that pink dress. It gives me so many emotiones. Probably because neon was big when I was hitting puberty. LOL.
I like her on screen. She comes across as very natural in her roles. I like her in comedies, she has perfect timing. You can clearly see during each of her performances that she works very hard. Her body is insane and it’s not one you can have by doing 30 minutes of cardio at home. She is not the strongest of singers but so aren’t 70% of the current pop stars. She has stage presence and she is a hustler.
Her advice is spot on. I use to doubt myself a lot especially during my younger days. I can’t count the things I have let go because I thought less of me. I got angry eventually and without even thinking I act like JLo. I put myself up and tell myself that I am good, brave, capable, worth etc. It does a lot of good to you.