Key Takeaways:
– Jennifer Lopez won a movie role over Sandra Bullock due to the latter's refusal to screen-test.
– Following her role in ‘Out of Sight,' Lopez faced the struggle for better pay.
– Lopez made significantly less than her co-star George Clooney despite her tough negotiations.
The Versatile Career of Jennifer Lopez
Most people know Jennifer Lopez as a versatile star who has made significant impact in the realms of music and film. What many don't know about JLo, however, is her competitive side, apparent from her early days in Hollywood. Before she became famous for films like ‘Maid in Manhattan,' ‘The Wedding Planner,' and ‘Monster-in-Law,' a young Lopez teamed up with the legendary actor George Clooney in the iconic film ‘Out of Sight.'
JLo v/s Sandra Bullock: The Battle for the Role
The collaboration between Lopez and Clooney in ‘Out of Sight' might be well known now but back then, JLo's casting was far from a sure thing. The story goes that she only got the role after Sandra Bullock failed to seize her chance. Sandra Bullock, another name that is now considered Hollywood royalty, was originally pitched for the role by Universal, who believed her star power could pull in a larger audience. However, when they asked her to screen test for the role, she declined. Her agent, who, coincidentally, was also Lopez's agent, supported this decision. With no Bullock audition in sight, the role eventually went to Lopez.
Battles Fought by Jennifer Lopez
While JLo's fighting spirit won her the role, it didn't end there. The ambitious actress, whose acting career was just about taking off, had more battles to fight, especially when it came to getting paid. It's a little-known fact that before she rose to become one of the highest-paid Latina actresses in Hollywood, Lopez had to struggle and haggle her way to the top.
In an interview with Movieline, Lopez opened up about her struggles of getting paid equitably for her acting roles. In particular, she spoke about her fight for better pay after landing the role of Karen Sisco in ‘Out of Sight.' She revealed that despite her hard negotiations, she was paid significantly less than her co-star Clooney.
Lopez shared, “They thought they were going to get me cheap from the beginning, but I kept telling my agent, ‘No, no, no! Keep asking!'” Despite her toughness, JLo still ended up earning significantly less than Clooney.
The Revenue Gap in ‘Out of Sight'
Reports from Celebrity Net Worth revealed George Clooney earned around $10 million for his role in the 1998 film, while Lopez got a relatively meager $2 million. The pay gap between the two co-stars speaks volumes about the battles actresses face in Hollywood, even at the height of their careers.
But the plucky JLo proved that success is the best revenge. Over the decade, Lopez's wealth has grown exponentially. She now holds a net worth of $400 million, raking in a yearly salary of around $40 million, according to reports.
If you're curious about the film that set the stage for Lopez's Hollywood success, you can stream Jennifer Lopez and George Clooney's ‘Out of Sight' on Apple TV. Remember, every icon starts somewhere, and for JLo, it was toe-to-toe with George Clooney and Sandra Bullock.
