Jennifer Lopez knows she works too hard. So she can relate to the career-driven woman she plays in “The Wedding Planner,” a romantic comedy that opened last weekend. But she also clings to her grounded identity as “a simple girl from the Bronx who made good.”
“I’m a pretty `together’ person, but not as organized and meticulous as her,” Lopez said of her character, who shuts out emotions in favor of career until she falls for a bridegroom (Matthew McConaughey), whose wedding she plans.
“She’s more of a control freak–very meticulous. She closes off her personal life, focusing on work and making that her life.
“I can relate to being career-oriented, but I want to find a balance between that and my personal life.”
So far Lopez hasn’t succeeded–but that’s been by choice.
Soon after emerging on TV (“In Living Color”) and in films (“Money Train,” “Jack”), Lopez vaulted to stardom with the title role in 1997’s “Selena,” a biopic of the slain Tejano music star.
She was paid $1 million for the part–at the time, the highest fee ever paid a Hispanic actress. (Lopez’s parents are Puerto Rican.)
Now, at age 30, she’s in the megamillions, having earned $4 million for last year’s “The Cell” and $9 million for “The Wedding Planner.”
In the process, she’s become a role model for Hispanic girls, and she doesn’t resist that.
“It’s icing on the cake for what I do,” Lopez said. “I’m human, and I’ll always make mistakes. But I do my best to live a good life and work hard, like anyone else should.”
She thinks her ethnicity always will be a factor.
“People won’t look past it, because it’s who I am, and I put it out there and I’m proud of it. I feel fortunate to be considered someone who can do many different things despite what my last name is.”
With a busy schedule that keeps her largely in L.A., she rarely sees her family.
“Work is what my life is about right now,” said Lopez. “I’m prepared to pay that price right now. But I’m also aware that I need time to nurture relationships and get more in touch spiritually with who I am. At one point I’ll have to get off the roller coaster.”
One small help is massage, which Lopez has regularly. “It’s the only thing that can make me be still and just relax.”
There’s also her longtime boyfriend, musician Sean “Puffy” Combs, although his legal woes from a weapons charge may put her in court as a witness.
There also have been rumors recently that the two have split up, though neither has confirmed the rumors.
In any case, she says she does hope to settle down and have kids one day–and yes, she’ll need a wedding planner.
“But right now my life’s about work. It’s lonely, but it’s a sacrifice I’ve chosen to make, and I’m resigned to it.”
Lopez is toiling in two realms. Her second album of Latin R&B recently hit stores.
It’s titled “J. Lo,” which is one of her nicknames. (McConaughey calls her “Fuego,” or fire, and childhood friends dubbed her “Supernova.”)
The disc follows her 1999 double-platinum debut, “On the 6,” which earned a dance-recording Grammy nomination for “Let’s Get Loud.”
Lopez won’t attend the ceremonies; she’ll be in Australia promoting the new album. She also plans a summer concert tour–which could lengthen if an expected actors’ strike persists.
“Music has always been part of the plan,” said Lopez, who grew up studying dance and devouring musicals. “Dance is very much a part of who I am.”
She got to dance in “The Wedding Planner,” performing a tango with McConaughey. Neither had tangoed before, and they rehearsed for two weeks.
Another challenge was the film’s opening shot: a seven-minute, no-cuts scene in which Lopez whips a wedding into motion with steely resolve.
“That was the longest and most complicated shot I’ve ever done,” she said. “The scene with George Clooney in the trunk (in `Out of Sight’) was about the same time, but it was just lying there talking.”
Playing drunk also was a challenge, since Lopez doesn’t drink.
Her sole addiction is fashion. She adores such designers as Versace, Gucci, Fendi and Dolce and Gabbana.
For this interview, she was wearing a caramel-colored outfit: a turtleneck sweater, studded skirt, and knee-high, strapped Versace boots, as well as diamonds adorning her ears, wrists and fingers.
“I know Donatella [Versace]. I know Tom Ford. They’re always great and help me out when I need something fabulous to wear.”
Looking fabulous has helped her be named one of the world’s sexiest women by magazines.
“Isn’t it terrible?” Lopez asked with mock indignation.
She’s proud of her looks, and unlike many actresses, doesn’t obsess over her weight.
“I’m a size 6,” Lopez said. “To me, that’s a normal size. It’s how I feel good. Somebody else might be more naturally thin or heavy.”
With her glamor, Lopez often is deemed a diva.
“Damn right she is,” McConaughey says. “Not many women can be. But what better place to do it than Hollywood, where you can recreate yourself and it’s Halloween every day?”
Lopez disagrees.
“I’m no diva,” she said. Yet she considers her co-star’s words “a compliment.”
“It’s not that Matthew’s wrong; I know what he means. But it’s just the fun of being a girl who has a fur coat and gets to dress up. What’s wrong with that?”
“Wedding Planner” director Adam Shankman concurs. “She’s a pro,” he said. “And she’s incredibly respectful of other actors.”
She and McConaughey “got along great,” she said. “We vibed right away. He’s a down-home guy.”
During the shoot, she tried to “keep my corny meter on.”
“We weren’t making `The English Patient’ here, but a fun romantic comedy. So we tried not to take it too seriously.”
Her own idea of romance centers on thoughtfulness–“something that takes time to do.
“It’s easy to buy a rose or get candy, but to write a note takes time and energy, and is so much more thoughtful. Little things make a difference.”
Of course, she says she hasn’t minded Combs’ lavish gifts, but says, “I outdo him all the time.
“We’re just two kids who grew up with nothing, so you enjoy being able to do something big for someone you care about.”
For a woman who sees herself as “a hard-working girl,” that’s just part of the payoff.
“I’ve been really lucky,” Lopez said. “But my work ethic and my outlook are the still same. And while I have my ups and down, I wouldn’t trade my life for the world.”
