Timeless Beauty

JENNIFER LOPEZ makes juggling multiple roles of mother, actress, executive producer and singer look easy. But how does she do it?

- Jane Taylor and Jessica Young

At 47, Jennifer Lopez has it all. Still a beauty, she has rediscovered happiness and a creative resurgence while pushing herself harder than ever. Over the past year, the singer and actress has taken the lead role in the TV crime drama Shades of Blue, started performing at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas as part of a three-year, $26 million contract, and completed her stint as a judge on the final season of American Idol. That’s the kind of indefatigable work ethic that JLo believes is one of the prime ingredients of success and part of her nature.

Renewed for a second season, the TV series Shades of Blue (season 1 was screened on MNet here) sees Lopez playing Detective Harlee Santos, a corrupt officer and a single mother who is forced to become an FBI informant, while dealing with her own financial and personal problems. Veteran tough-guy actor Ray Liotta co-stars as the corrupt head of her police unit. Not only did Lopez help to develop and produce the series, she’s also following in the footsteps of many leading actors who have transitioned from film to TV. In so doing, JLo is showing the public a tougher, grittier side of herself.

“Last year while shooting Shades, I was working four days a week, then travelling on weekends to do American Idol two days a week, and during that whole time I was conceptualising and making arrangements for the Vegas show,” said JLo. “I was doing everything at once. That’s when I started doing meditation because it was the first time in my life that I felt I may have bitten off more than I could chew. It all happened at the same time. I didn’t plan it that way. But it feels great. I’ve always been a hard worker and it’s gratifying to get all these opportunities to do these different things.”