Jennifer Lopez is a household name in the entertainment industry, known for her music, acting, and dancing. While she has achieved significant success and fame, she is often overlooked and underrated as an actress. In this essay, we will explore the career of Jennifer Lopez, from her early beginnings to her most recent accomplishments, and examine how her identity as a Latina woman in Hollywood has impacted her career trajectory. We will also discuss the representation and misrepresentation of Latinas in mainstream American cinema and how Jennifer Lopez has broken away from traditional roles, as well as her outspokenness on issues such as gender pay gap and sexual harassment in Hollywood. Ultimately, we will raise the question of why Jennifer Lopez remains an underrated movie icon and whether there are systemic reasons for this.

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction

0:45 Jennifer Lopez’s Early Career and Breakthrough in the movie Selena

2:45 Not Your Typical Actress (Public image and experience as a Latina in Hollywood)

6:49 Breaking Typecasting: The Representation of Latinas in Hollywood

8:37 Jennifer Lopez’s Transition to Romantic Comedy

11:12 Hustlers: Taking Control and Changing the Narrative

13:06 Jennifer Lopez and Latinas at The Oscars

15:28 Conclusion