Jennifer Lopez is feeling better than ever one month after finalizing her divorce from Ben Affleck.
“J.Lo is starting to feel like herself again. She’s making sure she is happy and that she’s being a good mom,” a friend of the pop star, 55, exclusively shares in the latest issue of Us Weekly, referring to Lopez and her ex-husband Marc Anthony’s 16-year-old twins, Emme and Max.
According to the friend, work has been a “good distraction” for Lopez over the past several months. Among her upcoming list of projects is the movie musical adaptation of Kiss of the Spider Woman, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 26.
Lopez channeled the film’s title by sporting a black lace dress with a sequined spider web overlay to the premiere. She got emotional while opening up about the film, which is based on Manuel Puig’s 1976 novel and the Tony-winning Broadway musical of the same name.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment my whole life. The reason I even wanted to be in this business is because my mom would sit me in front of the TV and [West Side Story] would come on once a year,” she said at the festival, which was attended by Us. “I remember I was mesmerized and was like, ‘That’s what I want to do.’ That was always my goal. This is the first time I actually got to do it. This man made my dream come true!”
In the latest issue of Us, an eyewitness at the festival says Lopez “look[ed] beautiful” at the film’s screening, adding, “Jennifer is the highlight of the film … [there were] multiple applause breaks after performances and a standing ovation. If she gets an Oscar nod [next year], it won’t be a shock.”
Lopez’s friend, meanwhile, tells Us that it was the actress’ “dream” to star in the film. “She really thinks it’s her best performance,” they share. “She also has a couple of other projects in the works, but she’s being selective. This is all about quality over quantity. … She’s been focusing on herself and feels beautiful.”
For now, Lopez is continuing to keep her focus on her work life and not her love life. “[She] isn’t ready to date again just yet,” the friend tells Us. “She still believes in love. She is a romantic and always will be.”
After months of split speculation, Lopez filed for divorce from Affleck, 52, in August 2024. The date of her filing fell on the two-year anniversary of the pair’s second wedding ceremony, as they wed in Georgia in August 2022 after secretly tying the knot in Las Vegas one month prior.
In her filing, Lopez cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for their split and listed their date of separation as April 26, 2024. At the time, multiple sources exclusively told Us that it became “more and more apparent they weren’t a good match” before their breakup and that their split was a “planned” one.
The two reunited at several events with their respective kids before finalizing their divorce on January 6. In court documents obtained by Us, Lopez and Affleck “agreed to divide all assets and liabilities” to avoid further expenses and litigation.
“She’s enjoying being single and is feeling herself,” another source exclusively told Us last month. “She was very in love with Ben, but love isn’t enough sometimes. Things worked out for the best and how they were supposed to.”
For more on Lopez, watch the video above and pick up the latest issue of Us Weekly, on newsstands now.
Read the full article here
