Jennifer Lopez Says She Feels ‘So Lucky’ as She Reflects on Making “Maid in Manhattan ”’20-Something Years Later’

NEED TO KNOW

• Jennifer Lopez reflected on her role in Maid in Manhattan 23 years after its release in a heartfelt Instagram post

• The actress and singer shared behind-the-scenes details, including the film’s original title and her collaboration with director Wayne Wang

• Lopez’s costar Ralph Fiennes praised her talent during a 2025 reunion where he presented her with an award

Jennifer Lopez is reminiscing about her role in Maid in Manhattan!

The singer and actress, 56, starred in the 2002 romantic comedy as Marisa Ventura, a single mom from the Bronx working at one of New York City’s finest hotels as a maid.

Ventura was trying on a wealthy guest’s clothing when she met and fell for Christopher Marshall (Ralph Fiennes), a wealthy senatorial candidate, who thought she was a hotel guest and member of high society.

Lopez admitted that she looks back fondly on her time filming the movie, which was released 23 years ago, in an Instagram post she uploaded on Thursday, April 9.

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“Twenty-something years later and I still think about Marisa Ventura,” she wrote. “ A single mom who moved through marble lobbies and thread-count sheets that weren’t hers…but carried herself like they could be.”

Lopez, who was 32 when she filmed Maid in Manhattan, said it initially started as a script called ‘The Chambermaid’, but she and producer Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas reached out to director Wayne Wang and they “dreamed up a girl with her nose pressed to the snow globe of Manhattan.”

“A girl from the Bronx, playing a girl from the Bronx, who dared to dream bigger than her zip code,” she continued. “I was so lucky to share that set with Natasha Richardson, Bob Hoskins, Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, Tyler Posey and Amy Sedaris.”

Lopez added: “What a movie. What a cast. What a time.”

The mom of two was nominated for the 2003 Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture at the Image Awards (NAACP) for her role, but lost out to Angela Bassett, who starred in Sunshine State.

In January 2025, Lopez and Fiennes, 63, had a Maid in Manhattan onstage reunion at Variety‘s 10 Directors to Watch and Creative Impact Awards brunch in Palm Springs, California.

Fiennes presented Lopez with the night’s Legend and Groundbreakers award and commended the actress for her “amazing skills” as he recalled making the film together.

“But of course, to be a legend and a groundbreaker, it’s a matter of spirit. If you have the skills, their currency is lessened, unless there’s a strong spirit behind them. It’s the spirit which moves us and lifts us,” Fiennes said.

“That was incredibly beautiful,” Lopez said when at the podium. “Ralph, it’s been so long. It’s so great to see you. Thank you so much for doing this.”

“You know how much I admire you and your work. And it was such a privilege to be able to work with you so many years ago. And it’s amazing to be here today, thank you so much.”

“We really must stop meeting in hotels like this,” she then joked, referencing Maid in Manhattan.

In December 2024, Fiennes spoke with PEOPLE and touched on his late friend and Maid in Manhattan costar Natasha Richardson, who died in 2009 following a ski accident.

“I was friends with Natasha,” he said. “And it was incredibly devastating to all of her friends and — of course — to her family that she died so tragically and so young. I have a lot of happy memories of spending time with Natasha and [her husband] Liam [Neeson].”

“She was a wonderful, kind, open, generous host, wonderful actress, and I really valued her friendship,” the star added.

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