Jennifer Lopez starred in the biographical drama Selena in 1997, and it is still regarded as one of her best movies nearly three decades later. Jennifer Lopez began her career in the entertainment industry in the 1990s as a dancer before transitioning into singing and acting with small roles in movies including Mi Familia (1995) and Blood and Wine (1996). She has since become one of America's most influential artists, with some of Jennifer Lopez's best movies including The Wedding Planner (2001) and The Mother (2023). Lopez has recently been praised for her performance in Kiss Of The Spider Woman (2025).
In 1997, Lopez was cast in the title role of the Gregory Nava movie, Selena, a biopic based on the life and career of the Tejano performer, Selena Quintanilla-Perez. The movie was produced by Q-Productions, operated by Selena's father, Abraham Quintanilla, and follows the singer's early years in her family band before her eventual rise to become one of the most celebrated Tejano musicians of all time; the movie was released just two years after Selena's murder in 1995. More than 27 years since Selena's release, it is still regarded as Jennifer Lopez' best performance.
Jennifer Lopez's 1997 Movie Selena Was Her Breakthrough In The Movie Industry
Lopez Was Highly Praised For Her Accurate Portrayal Of The Singer
During the production of Selena, more than 21,000 people auditioned for the title role; Salma Hayek was initially considered by producer, Moctesuma Esparza, to portray Selena, before Jennifer Lopez was cast (via Chicago Tribune). Lopez took the role very seriously, watching Selena's interviews and performances, learning the singer's different mannerisms while performing, and temporarily living with her family, to learn more about Selena's early life (via ABC News). Selena's sister, Suzette Quintanilla, later praised Lopez's commitment to the role, stating that Lopez "really just [tried] to vibe our family" during the film's production (via Entertainment Tonight).
The announcement of Jennifer Lopez's casting in the role of Selena was initially met with severe hostility from the media, who highlighted that Selena was of Mexican descent, while Lopez was Puerto Rican; many believed that Lopez didn't fit the role of Selena (via Entertainment Weekly). However, upon release, Jennifer Lopez's performance as Selena was acclaimed worldwide, with critics praising her for perfectly conveying Selena's personality and her dedication to the role; Lopez received her first Golden Globe nomination for her performance. Jennifer Lopez became the first Latin actress to earn $1 million from a movie with Selena.
Jennifer Lopez Considered It An Honor To Perform As Selena
She Has Stated That Selena Inspired Her To Focus On Music
In the years following the movie's release, Jennifer Lopez has spoken positively about her experiences in filming Selena. She considered it an honor to have been chosen to portray the late Tejano singer and stated that the movie "means so much to me" (via NBC News). The critical and financial success of Selena inspired further attention to Latin-American culture in Hollywood and has been credited by Selena's family for helping to keep the singer's memory alive. The 1997 movie has also been positively compared to the 2020 Selena series released by Netflix.
Lopez has also credited her experience performing as Selena for inspiring her to focus further on her music career. Her debut album, On The 6, was released in 1999 to critical acclaim, and Jennifer Lopez has since become one of the most successful American performers in history. Jennifer Lopez's role in Selena gave her the confidence she needed to broaden her career and remains her best movie role.
Sources: Chicago Tribune, ABC News, Entertainment Tonight, Entertainment Weekly, NBC News,
