Jennifer Lopez is opening up about an unexpected moment that helped her heal during one of the most difficult periods of her life.
While reflecting on the end of her marriage to Ben Affleck, the singer and actress revealed that watching the Oscar-nominated Brazilian film ‘I’m Still Here’ with her father became a turning point in her emotional recovery.
Speaking on co-star Brett Goldstein’s podcast, ‘Films to Be Buried With,’ Lopez recalled spending the holidays with her family while sick and quietly struggling with the emotional weight of her divorce.
“I was trying to cry quietly in my room,” she shared, explaining that she decided to watch ‘I’m Still Here,’ the acclaimed film that follows Eunice Paiva’s decades-long search for answers after her husband disappears during Brazil’s military dictatorship.
The experience became even more meaningful because her father, David Lopez, joined her for the screening despite not typically being someone who sits down to watch movies.
As the film’s powerful themes of resilience, family, and unconditional love unfolded, Lopez found herself overwhelmed with emotion. When her father noticed her crying, he responded with a gesture she says changed her life.
© Jeff KravitzAccording to Lopez, her father gently cupped her face and reminded her how much he loved her.
The actress described the exchange as deeply healing, explaining that sometimes children need to hear those words directly from their parents, no matter how old they are.
© Presley Ann“It healed a part of me that needed to be healed,” Lopez said, adding that the moment helped her move forward and embrace a happier chapter of her life.
The emotional breakthrough came during what Lopez has previously described as an intense period of self-reflection following her split from Affleck.
Determined to understand herself on a deeper level, Lopez assembled what she has called a personal “coping toolkit.” The star sought guidance from multiple professionals, including a religious coach, an individual therapist, a couples therapist, and an addiction coach.
© GC ImagesShe also immersed herself in books about childhood development, relationships, marriage, different forms of love, and neuroscience, while maintaining a daily routine of meditation, journaling, and prayer.
Lopez has said she was committed to examining how her upbringing and early family experiences influenced the way she approached love and relationships.
© GettyHer twins, Max and Emme, also became a major source of motivation throughout the process. Lopez previously revealed that she promised her children she would emerge from the painful chapter stronger and better, a commitment she says ultimately brought her peace.
At the same time, the multi-hyphenate star poured her energy into work, completing projects including ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’ and promoting her Netflix romantic comedy ‘Office Romance ‘alongside Goldstein.
© Getty Images for NetflixLooking back, Lopez has described the end of her marriage as a transformative experience that ultimately made her more self-aware, more present, and more comfortable in her own skin.
But among the therapy sessions, self-help books, and personal growth work, it was a simple moment with her father during a movie night that left the deepest mark.
For Lopez, that reminder of unconditional love became the healing she didn’t know she still needed.
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