Jennifer Lopez Reveals She Auditioned for MusicalsEvita,ChicagoandNineBefore LandingKiss of the Spider Woman

Mar. 15, 2025

Jennifer Lopez during theKiss of the Spider Womanpremiere at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on Jan. 26, 2025.Photo:Neilson Barnard/Getty

Neilson Barnard/Getty

Jennifer Lopezknows that sometimes roles happen (or don’t!) for a reason.

The actress spoke withThe Hollywood Reporterahead of theKiss of the Spider Womanpremiere at theSundance Film Festivalin Park City, Utah, on Sunday, Jan. 26, and revealed some other musicals that she previously tried out for but didn’t get.

“I remember auditioning forEvita, I remember auditioning forChicagoand forNine— getting very close onNine,” said Lopez, 55. “There was a lot of things that I had always hoped that I could do and just wasn’t the right time. But this is the right thing.”

Evita(1996) starredMadonnaas Argentinian First Lady Eva Perón, while 2002’sChicagomade waves withRenée ZellwegerandCatherine Zeta-Jonesas leads Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly, respectively.

Rob Marshalldirected the 2009 movie adaptation ofNine, which featured a star-studded cast includingDaniel Day-Lewis,Marion Cotillard,Penélope CruzandNicole Kidman.

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“I’ve been waiting for this moment my whole life,” Lopez said during a discussion at Sundance followinga standing ovation after the screening, when the Q&A moderator suggested she was “made for"Kiss of the Spider Woman.

“And I was like, ‘That’s what I want to do.’ And that was always my goal. And this is the first time I actually got to do it. This crowd made my dream come true!” Lopez added.

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Jennifer Lopez during theKiss of the Spider Womanpremiere at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on Jan. 26, 2025.Neilson Barnard/Getty

Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE at the Sundance premiere ofKiss the Spider Womanon Sunday, the actress and singer also touched on the challenge of filming songs in one take.

“We did okay,” Lopez said, adding that directorBill Condonwanted the performances filmed in one shot “like the old musicals authentically were done.”

“And it’s pretty amazing when you do see it and you go, ’Oh, that was all one shot right there,’ ” she noted. “And okay now they cut, but it’s fascinating, you know, you go, ’Oh I didn’t realize that even when I was watching the musicals when I was younger.’ ”

Lopez added, “A little extra challenge, but also exhilarating, right? Like,you gotta get it right. And when you nail it, everybody’s like, ‘Aah.’ "

source: people.com