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Jennifer Lopez on FOX's "American Idol" (2007) |
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Jennifer Lynn Lopez was born on July 24, 1970 into a loving Puerto Rican family in the Bronx. Although a family-oriented neighborhood, it was also a rough place. Jennifer Lopez's father, a computer-operations manager, and her mother, a kindergarten teacher, both had a strong work ethic that was a big influence in their three daughter's lives. With family as their top priority, they did their best to shelter their children from the horrors found just a few blocks from their home.
Jennifer Lopez's mother passed on her love of musicals to her daughters, and the girls would create productions of their own in the family's living room. Jennifer Lopez took singing and dancing lessons from age five, and at the age of seven, young Jennifer went on her first tour - around New York City with her dance class! Jennifer Lopez knew then that she wanted to be a performer and set her heart on a dancing career.
During high school, Jennifer Lopez played softball, tennis and also did gymnastics. After graduating in 1987 Jennifer Lopez attended City University of New York's Baruch College, worked in a law office, and continued her dance classes at night. But her first love was still dance, and when she read about a scholarship to a dance school in Manhattan, Jennifer Lopez went down and seized the opportunity.
A year and a half later Jennifer Lopez landed a role dancing as one of 'The Fly Girls' on "In Living Color." A series of small acting roles followed, and in 1995 Jennifer Lopez appeared in her first feature, the critically acclaimed "Mi Familia." Also that year Jennifer Lopez appeared in "Money Train" with Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson, and 1996's "Jack," directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Robin Williams.
However Jennifer Lopez's big break came in 1997, when she was chosen to play the title role in "Selena," a biopic of the Tejano pop singer Selena Quintillana Perez, who was killed by a crazed fan in 1995. Jennifer Lopez earned widespread praise for her performance, including a Golden Globe nod, and became the highest-paid Latina actress ever. Jennifer Lopez had officially arrived, and People magazine named her one of the year's "50 Most Beautiful People." Other films followed including "Anaconda," "Blood and Wine," and "Out of Sight," co-starring George Clooney.
Jennifer Lopez's musical career also began to take off, as she released her debut Latin pop album, "On the 6" in June 1999. Fueled by the success of her hit single, "If You Had My Love," it went platinum within two weeks, making her one of the most influential examples of the growing Latin cultural influence in pop music. In early 2000, Jennifer Lopez was nominated for Best Dance Performance for her second hit single "Waiting for Tonight." On the big screen that year Jennifer Lopez starred in the science fiction-thriller "The Cell," and gave a powerful performance in "Enough," a portrayal of spousal abuse.
In early 2001, Jennifer Lopez's popularity reached new heights when her album "J. Lo" debuted at #1 on the pop charts, while her film, the romantic comedy "The Wedding Planner," shot to the top spot at the box office in its first week of release. In 2002, Jennifer Lopez performed another one-two punch with the release of the record "This Is Me...Then" and starred in the hit comedy "Maid in Manhattan."
Jennifer Lopez recently starred opposite Richard Gere in "Shall We Dance?" Jennifer also starred in and produced "Bordertown," which reunites her with "Selena" director Gregory Nava. "Bordertown" was produced though Jennifer's production company Nuyorican and as well as El Norte Films. Upcoming projects for Jennifer Lopez include "An Unfinished Life" with Robert Redford in which she played a single mom taken in by her father-in-law.
Jennifer Lopez's Nuyorican Films along with Flame TV produced "South Beach" for the UPN.
Jennifer Lopez is deeply committed to doing all she can for Children's Hospital Los Angeles and its patients so that every child from every background has access to the best in pediatric medicine. Despite her busy schedule, Jennifer Lopez makes time to visit and corresponds with patients via e-mail. Jennifer Lopez further supports the hospital on her website, encouraging fans to make donations. In addition to her financial support, Jennifer Lopez has donated items from her popular retail lines -- jewelry, sunglasses, fragrance and clothing -- as well as several thousands of DVD's and CD's. For her work Jennifer Lopez was presented with the hospital's Children's Humanitarian Award.
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