Oscar or not, J-Lo has nothing left to prove

Jennifer Lopez is revisiting her complicated relationship with Hollywood's awards season, making it clear she no longer views an Oscar as the defining measure of her career and stressing that she enjoys her acting more than collecting accolades.

In a candid conversation with 'CBS Sunday Morning', the star admitted she is once again hearing awards chatter, this time for her upcoming role in 'Kiss of the Spider-Woman', directed by Bill Condon.

But when pressed about her expectations, Lopez brushed off the speculation. "I don't, I don't. I learned my lesson last time," she said, stressing that her joy now comes from acting itself rather than the pursuit of accolades.

The remark was a pointed reference to her bruising experience in 2020, when she was widely tipped to receive a nomination for her acclaimed turn as Ramona in 'Hustlers'. Critics raved, she picked up a Golden Globe nomination and several critics' circle wins, but the Academy famously passed her over.

Lopez later admitted the snub left her "heartbroken." In her 2022 Netflix documentary Halftime, she revealed that she truly believed her name would be read out on nomination morning. Now, Lopez insists she has moved beyond that disappointment.

"Of course we all want that," she said of recognition, but explained she no longer feels she needs an Oscar to validate her work. "I realised that I don't need it in the way that maybe I thought when I was younger," she reflected... before quipping that she would still happily accept one if it came her way.

Her performance as diva Ingrid Luna in 'Kiss of the Spider-Woman' has already drawn early praise, with awards campaigners expected to push her in the Best Supporting Actress category at the 2026 Oscars. Industry buzz suggests she could once again find herself in the thick of the race, though Lopez appears determined not to let predictions dominate her perspective.

Meanwhile, fans online remain divided. Some are rooting for Lopez to finally secure the recognition they believe she deserved for 'Hustlers'. Others, more sceptical, warn the Academy may repeat history and overlook her again.

Regardless of the outcome, Lopez's remarks underline how the sting of 2020 reshaped her outlook. Having once tied her self-worth to an award that never came, she now frames success in terms of the work itself. As she put it simply: the joy lies in the process—not the prize.