For Jennifer Lopez, 'Kiss of the Spider Woman' was more than just a movie. It was a lifeline during one of the hardest chapters of her personal life.
Filmed during a difficult time, Lopez found the role of Ingrid Luna to be both challenging and deeply restorative. “It was hard not to think about stuff, but it was like the best and the worst of times in a way,” she admitted during a CBS Sunday Morning interview. “Because it was every moment on set and every moment I was doing this role, I was so happy. And then back home, it was not great.”
She described the movie as a project the world needs right now. “I think it's necessary because the world is in a place where there's a lot of hate... there's a demonization of like the Latino community, of the queer community,” she said. “And I think, you know, we need to remind each other that love is the answer, not hate.”
Having finalized her divorce from Ben Affleck in January, the experience of portraying a character imagined by a prisoner in Argentina offered Lopez a kind of escape and a path forward. “It helped me grow in a way that I needed to grow, become more self-aware,” she shared. “I'm a different person now than I was last year.”
That growth wasn’t just personal, as it also touched her family. Speaking on the 'Las Culturistas' podcast, Lopez revealed how her twin children, Max and Emme, were part of that emotional journey. “I said this to my kids, ‘We're going to get through this. We're going to be better. I'm going to be stronger. And you're going to see that, and you're going to see that you can do it in your own life, too.’”
Support from her fanbase played an equally pivotal role. “I can't tell you that in the hardest times of my personal life, how my fans and followers get me through,” she said. “They get you through. They really do. Because you go, ‘I can't let them down. I can't fall right now. I can get through this, and I can show them that I can get through this.’”
That connection with fans, she emphasized, isn’t superficial. “It’s a real relationship,” Lopez said. “Even though we don't know each other personally.”
The film, produced by her ex-husband Ben Affleck, explores the relationship between Lopez’s character and Luis Molina, played by Tonatiuh. Lopez drew parallels between that on-screen bond and her relationship with her fans, each offering strength and refuge when she needed it most.
Affleck, for his part, offered a glowing review of Lopez’s performance at the film’s New York screening. “She pulls it off with grace and aplomb, and she's wonderful,” he told E! News. “I love her performance in the movie. She's amazing, spectacular, and I'm thrilled to be a part of it.”
During her interview with CBS Mornings, she also touched on themes of open-mindedness and cultural exchange, praising Bad Bunny’s upcoming Super Bowl Halftime Show. “It's about not having so many ideas and closing yourself off to experiences that you might be missing out on something wonderful,” she said. “Don't do that to yourself.”
One especially heartfelt moment came when Lopez recalled Marc Anthony’s surprise appearance during Bad Bunny’s residency in Puerto Rico. “It couldn't have been a more perfect moment,” she said. “And I didn't even see it. I know it was perfect. God didn't let me see it, because I would've exploded. I would've died...”
The conversation turned personal again when she was asked if she considered herself a romantic despite the recent divorce. Her answer came without hesitation. “100%. And the more self-aware I become with the lessons that I learn and the hardships that I go through, the more I feel whole and complete on my own, the more I become hopeful for that same type of person to come into my life,” she said. “The more I know, the more, you know, that type of person will come into my life. Yeah. And so I'm excited for everything in the future.”