Hustlers star Jennifer Lopez has explained why playing a stripper was a "liberating" experience.
The actress and singer's upcoming movie will see her taking on the role of a former strip club employee who, alongside her fellow co-workers, comes out to take revenge on their Wall Street clients.
In an interview with ES Magazine, Lopez opened up about the role, revealing that playing this particular character was "empowering".
"I'm used to being on stage in sexy costumes, but I have three layers of tights and fishnets and a bodysuit," she explained.
"It was a brand-new feeling to come out practically naked, in front of all those men – 300 extras hooting and hollering – and dance for money.
"There's something liberating and empowering about it, but you're really out there, physically, emotionally and psychologically."
Related: Jennifer Lopez says she could have "easily" made more seasons of Shades of Blue
Talking about how she survived the tough film industry, Lopez continued: "Ambition for sure, and also toughness. This business is not for the faint-hearted – it eats people up. To survive in it for as many years as I have, you've got to have a tough skin.
"Did I think I would be doing this at 50? I didn't think I'd stop, but I didn't know that it would be the best moment of my life.
"We're conditioned to think, as women, that it would be over by now. And the truth is, it's not like that at all. I find myself growing and getting better every year and that's exciting."
Lopez also emphasised on how she's always been pushing for Latin actresses, saying: "[I've] always been trying to push for more Latin women in lead roles.
"I've been doing romantic comedy leads since I was in my 20s – and those are always, traditionally, a certain type of actress that plays those roles – and that moves the needle a little bit. We want to keep moving towards things in movies looking the way they are in real life.
"How long is it going to take until it's really, truly equal? I don't know. All we can do is keep trying to move in that direction, keep forcing the issue."
Discussing her upcoming wedding with baseball star Alex Rodriguez, Lopez added: "[Marriage is] important for both of us. We both come from traditional Latin families and we want that. Everyone wants somebody to grow old with.
"At the end of the day, how much work can you do, how much money can you make, and what does it all matter? It doesn't, really."
The full interview appears in this week's issue of ES Magazine, out today (September 5).
Hustlers has a release date for September 13, 2019 in the UK and in the US.
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