The power of JLo

The multitalented mother brings personal experience to the film What To Expect When You’re Expecting.

Mother to four-year-old twins Max and Emme, singer-actor Jennifer Lopez feels pregnancy is a gift from God and happens when it has to happen. But she says she also started considering adoption after working in her new film, reports IANS.

“I’m not opposed to pregnancy. It’s a blessing. And it’s so funny, people think they plan these things, they don’t, either you are going to have it because it’s meant to happen or you’re not,” said the 42-year-old. “And that’s it, and you can’t force it or push it or do anything. It’s something that’s destined,” she adds.

Lopez’s upcoming release is What To Expect When You’re Expecting. In the film, she plays Holly who adopts twins from abroad after having difficulty conceiving. “Before the movie, I never really thought about adoption at all. I was so focused on having my own and it took me a while to have my own. But after the film and during the making of the film, I held those two little twins and you fall in love instantly. And I can definitely see myself doing this sometime,” Lopez says.

In real life, the Latino star gave birth to her twins in 2008 with now estranged husband Marc Anthony.

The new film tells the tale of six couples experiencing the thrills and surprises of having a baby. It is based on a popular book on pregnancy by the same name. The book sold more than 14.5 million copies in 2011. What To Expect When You’re Expecting also features Cameron Diaz, Elizabeth Banks, Chace Crawford, Brooklyn Decker, Dennis Quaid and Rodrigo Santoro.

Lopez admits she didn’t have to prepare much for her role, thanks to her real-life experiences. “My babies were three at the time I was doing this movie and the memories of being pregnant were fresh in my head,” she says.

The ‘most powerful’ star

In other news, Lopez was named the world’s most powerful celebrity, according to Forbes magazine in a ranking based on a combination of earnings, press coverage and internet presence.

The singer headed the 100-strong list, up from 50^th last year. Lady Gaga, the pop singer, came in at number five, toppled from her top perch last year. Television presenter Oprah Winfrey was second, followed by teen heartthrob Justin Bieber at third and singer Rihanna at fourth.

Her success as a judge on “American Idol”, a resurgence in marketing her music, and an attention-grabbing divorce from Marc Anthony, followed by lucrative product endorsement deals, have sent her financial star shooting, reports Forbes.

Not returning to ‘American Idol’?

While the fans of the “On the Floor” singer may have been pleased by her progress in the rankings by Forbes, they will be disappointed by the latest buzz about the starlet. Word is that Lopez is casting doubt on whether she will return to “American Idol” next year as she juggles motherhood with a comeback in both her pop music and acting careers.

Lopez told talk show host Ellen DeGeneres this week that she wasn’t sure about renewing her contract as a judge on the TV singing contest for a third year. And on Wednesday, sources close to the singer confirmed that she was “too busy” and was planning on calling an end to her time on “American Idol”.

“Now this is my second year — I don’t know if I can go for a third year. I miss doing other things. It really does lock you down,” Lopez told DeGeneres.

(With additional information from Reuters and AFP)

Published in The Express Tribune, May 18^th, 2012.