Kicking off the week, Jennifer Lopez is celebrating the 25th anniversary of her iconic movie Selena, which was released a quarter of a century ago. Back in 1997, J-Lo had only a few acting gigs under her belt when she landed the role of the legendary Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla. Taking to Instagram, she shared throwback clips from the film and interviews reminiscing about how this role launched her star-studded career.
Jennifer Lopez is starting her week by commemorating the 25th anniversary of the release of Selena, the movie that marked a breakthrough in her career. She expressed her joy in celebrating the legacy and music of Selena, emphasizing the significance the movie holds for her. Lopez feels fortunate to have been selected to portray Selena and is grateful to have been a part of such a magical project. The experience remains etched in her memory as a cherished chapter in her life as an artist.
Let’s all come together to mark a momentous occasion – 25 years of SELENA! Today is all about celebrating and paying tribute to Selena’s incredible legacy and music,” Lopez excitedly announced.
It was a privilege for Lopez to be a part of such a magical movie during this chapter of her life as an artist. She expressed gratitude for the opportunity and shared behind-the-scenes videos and photos from her time working on the film and promoting it. During an interview with Oprah Winfrey, Lopez discussed the challenges of portraying an iconic singer with her family present every day on set. She acknowledged the demanding nature of the role but emphasized the effort she put into researching the singer’s life. Lopez mentioned that she was working on another project when she received the role and spent hours in her trailer immersing herself in the singer’s videos and music to prepare for the role.
She uploaded several videos and photos capturing her experiences on the film set and throughout the promotional tour, highlighting her conversation with talk show host Oprah Winfrey.
During an interview with Winfrey, Lopez discussed the challenges of portraying the iconic singer Selena with her family present on set every day. She shared that she knew it would be a demanding role from the start, and she dedicated a lot of time to researching the singer’s life.
Lopez also reminisced about the final rehearsal for her Super Bowl halftime show in 2020, where she reflected on her experience working on the film Selena. She explained how she meticulously studied Selena’s mannerisms and movements, aiming to be as authentic as possible in her portrayal.
Recalling a piece of advice from Edward James Olmos, who played her father in the movie, Lopez shared that he encouraged her to let go of her perfectionism and fully immerse herself in the character. She remembered filming a memorable scene in the Astrodome wearing Selena’s iconic purple outfit, describing it as a magical moment that required her to release her inhibitions and just be in the moment.
Outfit: Jennifer Lopez, who portrayed the iconic singer, Selena Quintanilla, in the movie, shared a piece of advice given to her by Edward James Olmos, who played her father in the film. Olmos told her to let go of everything and just be in the moment. Lopez reminisced about filming a magical scene in the Astrodome wearing a purple outfit. She emphasized the importance of releasing the past and moving forward.
Lopez also posted clips from the movie, including the famous Astrodome performance, as well as interviews where she discussed the emotional experience of having Selena’s mother watch her film scenes. She mentioned how she worked hard to embody Selena and learn to sing like her.
Selena Quintanilla, known as the Queen of Tejano Music, was a beloved Mexican-American artist who popularized Tejano music in the mainstream. Her groundbreaking career was tragically cut short when she was murdered by her fan club manager, Yolanda Saldivar, in 1995. Despite the tragic ending, Selena’s legacy lives on, and she remains a symbol of inspiration and empowerment for many.
Attire: She also posted videos from the movie, including the famous Astrodome performance, and discussed in press interviews her experiences of Selena’s mother and her own mother watching her film scenes. Lopez also revealed how she mastered singing like Selena.
Renowned: Selena Quintanilla was widely acclaimed as a top Mexican artist in the 20th Century, known as the Queen of Tejano Music for her unique blend of Mexican and American musical styles that gained widespread popularity through her music.
Fame: The artist was on the verge of achieving worldwide fame in 1994, by becoming the first Tejano singer to win a Grammy. Unfortunately, her life was tragically cut short when she was killed by Yolanda Saldivar, who was the manager of her fan club and stores. Saldivar was found to be stealing money from her.