This week, Jennifer Lopez kicked things off by celebrating the 25th anniversary of her iconic film Selena, which was released on a Monday exactly 25 years ago. At the time, she was relatively new to the movie scene but landed the role of the legendary Tejano singer, Selena Quintanilla, in the 1997 biopic. Taking to Instagram, J-Lo shared clips from the movie and interviews reflecting on how this role was the starting point of her incredible career.
Recognition: Commemorating a significant milestone, Jennifer Lopez kicked off her week by acknowledging the 25th anniversary of her iconic movie, Selena, which premiered on Monday. Lopez expressed her gratitude and nostalgia, emphasizing the profound impact that portraying Selena had on her life and career. Reflecting on her experience, she emphasized the honor she felt in being a part of such a magical film that continues to resonate with audiences after all these years.
Let’s rejoice: ‘Today is a truly remarkable day… we are commemorating 25 years of SELENA! Let’s come together to celebrate and pay tribute to Selena’s enduring legacy and music,’ Lopez excitedly announced.
“I will always remember this chapter in my life, and it is truly a privilege for me as an artist to have been a part of the magic that this movie has created,” Lopez expressed.
She proudly shared a collection of videos and pictures capturing her time both on set and during the exciting promotional tour, including her memorable interview with Oprah Winfrey.
During the interview, when asked about the challenges of embodying such an iconic singer with her family always around, Lopez acknowledged that she was well aware of the demanding role from the start. She devoted ample time researching and studying the singer’s life to prepare for the part.
Recalling the moment she landed the role, Lopez revealed that she was already working on another film. She remembered spending countless hours in her trailer engulfed in watching videos and listening to the singer’s music all day long to truly absorb and understand the essence of the character.
During the interview, she posted various videos and pictures capturing moments from her experience filming the movie and going on the promotional tour, including a special chat with Oprah Winfrey.
When Winfrey asked Lopez about the challenges of portraying an iconic singer with her family present on set every day, Lopez acknowledged that she knew it would be a tough role from the start. She emphasized the effort she put into studying the singer’s life in preparation for the role.
Lopez then shared a video from the final rehearsal of her Super Bowl halftime show in 2020, where she reminisced about her experience working on the film “Selena.” She described how meticulously she studied the singer’s tapes, trying to emulate her every move and gesture down to the smallest detail. Despite her perfectionist approach, Lopez recalled advice from Edward James Olmos, who played her father in the movie, encouraging her to let go and simply be in the moment.
Reflecting on a memorable scene filmed at the Astrodome wearing Selena’s iconic purple outfit, Lopez acknowledged the magic that unfolded when she finally let go of her meticulous preparation. She emphasized the importance of finding a balance between preparation and spontaneity in acting.
During the filming of the movie, actress Jennifer Lopez reflected on a moment with co-star Edward James Olmos, who played her father in the film. Olmos imparted some words of wisdom, telling Lopez to just let go of everything and be in the moment. Lopez remembered filming a magical scene at the Astrodome in a purple outfit, but emphasized the importance of eventually letting go.
Lopez also posted clips from the film, including the iconic Astrodome performance, as well as interviews where she talked about her mother and Selena’s mother watching her film scenes. She discussed how she learned to sing like Selena for the role.
Known as the Queen of Tejano Music, Selena Quintanilla was a celebrated Mexican artist in the 20th Century. Her music blended Mexican and American influences, bringing Tejano music into the mainstream. Selena was poised for global stardom and made history as the first Tejano singer to win a Grammy in 1994. Tragically, her life was cut short when she was murdered by Yolanda Saldivar, the manager of her fan club, who was found to be embezzling money from her, in March 1995.
Attire: In addition, she posted videos from the movie, including the unforgettable Astrodome performance. She also shared some interviews where she talked about her mother and Selena’s mother observing her during filming, and how she mastered singing like Selena.
Renowned: Selena Quintanilla was a highly acclaimed Mexican entertainer in the 20th Century, known as the Queen of Tejano Music. Her music, a fusion of Mexican and American styles, played a significant role in bringing Tejano music into the spotlight.
The musician was close to achieving worldwide fame, being the first Tejano singer to receive a Grammy in 1994, when she tragically lost her life at the hands of Yolanda Saldivar. Yolanda, who was managing her fan club and stores, was found to be stealing money from her. This unfortunate event occurred in March 1995.