Jennifer Lopez Reflects on Her Experience with Oscar Hopes: “I Learned My Lesson”

Jennifer Lopez stars in the upcoming film Kiss of the Spider Woman, a role for which she is already receiving Oscar buzz. Lopez was in a similar position in early 2020 as she campaigned for an Oscar for her role in Hustlers. She didn’t receive a nomination that time, much to the chagrin of her fans. Lopez said she isn’t hoping for an Oscar at the upcoming ceremony. She learned her lesson about hoping too hard last time.

Jennifer Lopez said she won’t spend time hoping for an Oscar

This year, Lopez stars in her first movie-musical, Kiss of the Spider Woman. The film has received generally positive reviews, with people praising her work. Despite this, she said she isn’t going to put too much hope in the awards season.

“I don’t, I don’t — I learned my lesson last time,” she told CBS Sunday Morning.

After her role in Hustlers, many people expected her to receive, at the very least, a nomination for her acting. Critics described it as the best performance of her career. When she wasn’t nominated, Lopez was devastated.

“I really thought I had a chance,” Lopez said through tears, per Variety. “I feel like I let everybody down.”

She said that now, she’s acting for the enjoyment of it, not for accolades.

“But also, the joy, for me, is in doing it. Every single moment,” she said. “It’s great to be in the conversation … like, you’re doing work that people recognize, and that they love. That’s enough.”

Still, she wouldn’t turn her nose at an Oscar nomination if she received one.

“It’s not that you can’t want more, or that you don’t wanna stand up there and say thank you. Of course — we all want that,” she said. “But I realized that I don’t need it in the way that maybe I thought when I was younger. Not that I wouldn’t love it — I just wanna do that little disclaimer!”

Kiss of the Spider Woman hits theaters on Oct. 10.