Jennifer Lopez Shares Her Musical Auditions Before ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’

Jennifer Lopez, fresh off her standing ovation at the world premiere of Kiss of the Spider Woman at the Sundance Film Festival, opened up about her career journey and the long-awaited opportunity to star in a musical. The superstar revealed to the audience that before landing the role in Bill Condon’s film, she had auditioned for several iconic movie musicals, only to miss out. She shared her experiences auditioning for major roles in Evita, Chicago, and Nine, acknowledging that although she was very close to landing the part in Nine, it simply wasn’t the right time.

Lopez, who has always dreamed of starring in a movie musical, recalled how watching West Side Story as a child inspired her to pursue a career in the arts. She started as a dancer and singer before transitioning to Hollywood, but Broadway remained her first love. Kiss of the Spider Woman marks the realization of a lifelong goal, and Lopez’s excitement was palpable as she spoke to The Hollywood Reporter.

While Evita (1996), starring Madonna, and Chicago (2002), featuring Renee Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones, both became massive successes, Lopez had yet to have her own musical moment on the big screen. In 2009, Nine featured an all-star cast including Nicole Kidman and Penélope Cruz, but Lopez was passed over. Despite the setbacks, Lopez emphasized that she never gave up on her dream of starring in a musical.

Her career trajectory took a different direction, but her love for musicals stayed with her. Her audition for Kiss of the Spider Woman came after years of waiting for the right project to come along. Lopez shared how she received the script from Bill Condon, who not only gave her the role but also crafted it specifically for her. The role of Ingrid Luna in the film was designed to showcase her singing, acting, and dancing abilities—a rare combination for any performer.

Lopez’s role in Kiss of the Spider Woman has already been described as a career-defining moment. The film, based on the 1976 novel by Argentine author Manuel Puig, tells the story of two cellmates who bond over Hollywood musicals. Lopez, who plays the iconic movie star Ingrid Luna, performs a song titled “Never You,” written by John Kander and Fred Ebb, marking the first time the song has ever been heard on screen. The song was unearthed by Condon after a deep dive into Kander and Ebb’s archives, making the moment all the more special.

During the Sundance premiere, Lopez got emotional reflecting on how far she’s come in her career. She acknowledged the huge responsibility of singing the song in front of Kander, who was present during her recording session. The 97-year-old composer was moved to tears listening to Lopez’s performance. For Lopez, it was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream, one that was 25 years in the making.

Despite the challenges, Condon believes that Kiss of the Spider Woman showcases the depth of Lopez’s talent and hopes it opens doors for her to take on more musical roles in the future. “It’s a little bittersweet,” Condon said, reflecting on the years without Lopez in musical films. He believes that her performance in this role will inspire other filmmakers to explore more of her incredible talent.

This opportunity, many agree, could have come much sooner, but as Lopez has shown, sometimes timing is everything. Kiss of the Spider Woman is just the beginning, and with her unmatched dedication to her craft, the future looks incredibly bright for Lopez in the world of movie musicals.