Did Jennifer Lopez Turn Down A Role In Unfaithful That Could Have Changed Her Career?

J.Lo spilled the tea in Vanity Fair’s Hollywood issue, saying, “There was a movie called Unfaithful. And it was offered to me, and the script wasn’t all the way there.” While Diane Lane ultimately got the role opposite Richard Gere and earned critical acclaim, J.Lo still can’t help but replay the missed opportunity in her head. She joked, “I want to, like, shoot my toe off.” Ouch.

J.Lo’s not just about missed chances. She’s always been about reshaping her career and breaking boundaries. After Unfaithful, she didn’t let setbacks stop her. She became a powerhouse in the entertainment world, most notably leading the Hustlers cast. In that role, she commanded the screen as a badass leader of a girl gang of strippers. Critics loved her performance, but still, no Oscar love.

Despite the snub, J.Lo kept it classy, focusing on producing the film and pushing for more female representation in Hollywood. She teamed up with Hustlers director Lorene Scafaria, saying, “It’s about breaking the mold of what people are used to. There are so many great female directors; why aren’t we using them more? It’s hard to break patterns, even in yourself, so we must consciously change the paradigm.” Translation: It’s time to rewrite the rules of the game.