Jennifer Lopez praises husband Ben Affleck for ’empowering her’ ahead of new project This Is Me… Now: ‘I can do it on my own but he gives me that extra love’
Jennifer Lopez has praised her husband Ben Affleck for ’empowering her’ ahead of her new project This Is Me… Now: A Love Story.
The singer, 54, is releasing three projects about her famous search for love – an ambitious musical film, her album, and a documentary chronicling the making of the film and record, The Greatest Love Story Never Told.
Speaking to Lorraine’s Ross King on Thursday, JLo spoke of the influence that Ben, 51, had on the musical movie.
‘I mean beside inspiring the whole thing…it wouldn’t have happened without him,’ she began.
‘He empowers me, I was like, “I don’t write” and he was like, “you write, so, write it.’”
Jennifer Lopez, 54, has praised her husband Ben Affleck for ’empowering her’ ahead of her new project This Is Me… Now: A Love Story.
JLo continued: ‘I am strong and brave and all of those things on my own but he gives me that extra love and that is a very beautiful thing to have.’
Jennifer and Ben famously rekindled their romance 18 years after calling off their engagement in 2003. They wound up tying the knot in Las Vegas and again in Georgia in 2022.
In a lengthy interview with Variety this week, the actresses revealed how she utilised love letters written by Ben while brainstorming on her new album.
The documentary captures the moment Ben walks in on a group of writers combing through the collection of letters.
For inspiration, Jennifer provided her colleagues with the letters, a collection of writings Ben had named ‘The Greatest Love Story Never Told’.
Variety reports the actor appeared ‘taken aback’ when he saw that the letters had been presented to his wife’s colleagues.
‘I did really find the beauty and the poetry and the irony in the fact that it’s the greatest love story never told. If you’re making a record about it, that seems kind of like telling it,’ Ben told the camera.
The Oscar-winning filmmaker offered his wife plenty of guidance as she made her film, one which she financed herself.
Speaking to Lorraine’s Ross King on Thursday, JLo spoke of the influence that Ben, 51, had on the musical movie (pictured with Ben this week)
The singer is releasing three projects about her famous search for love – an ambitious musical film, her album, and a documentary chronicling the making of the film and record
JLo explained: ‘I am strong and brave and all of those things on my own but he gives me that extra love and that is a very beautiful thing to have’
The film features an all-star cast such as Jane Fonda, Sofia Vergara, Neil deGrasse Tyson along with supernatural elements that include a ‘Zodiac love council’ who scrutinise her romantic weaknesses.
The wild project raised the eyebrows of her inner circle, who advised her against shooting the film, suggesting it may be a bad idea – but JLo went ahead and made it anyway.
It also made her longtime producing partner Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas ‘uncomfortable.’
During a late night phone call made by Lopez, JLo informed Elaine that she would contribute $20 million of her own money to fund the film.
‘She’s saying, “I think I’m going to finance this myself.” I was like, ‘Wait, what?’ I don’t even know what it is. What are you doing?’ I was worried. ‘Why are you sharing your story? It’s too personal. Stop it.’ It made me uncomfortable for her.”‘
Amazon ultimately bought the film for an undisclosed figure after the movie was done.
JLo’s vision raised eyebrows amongst her colleagues
The movie and album will drop on February 16, while the documentary will be released on February 27
‘I think it’s a true piece of art, and I’m very proud of it,’ Lopez explained
One surprising big name who opted not to be in the film was Khloe Kardashian. Jennifer asked Khloe to appear, but the reality star declined the opportunity.
‘People are scared to put themselves out there,’ JLo explains in the documentary. ‘I get it. It took me a long time. I’m scared. But I don’t act like I’m scared — that’s the secret to my whole f***ing career.’
Jane Fonda, who starred opposite Jennifer in Monster-In-Law, was also initially reluctant to appear in the film.
Fonda – who ends up playing a member of the Zodiac council – is seen telling Jennifer in the documentary, ‘I want you to know that I don’t entirely know why, but I feel invested in you and Ben, and I really want this to work.
‘However, this is my concern. Like, it feels too much like you’re trying to prove something instead of just living it. You know, every other photograph is the two of you kissing and the two of you hugging.’
‘That’s just us living our life,’ Jennifer replies with a laugh.
