Jennifer Lopez stepped into the spotlight Friday at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), promoting a film about the incredible story of a one-legged wrestler who overcomes all odds to win the Holy Grail.
In the film “Unstoppable,” the unstoppable 55-year-old actress, singer and dancer plays the mother of a wrestler, played by Jharrel Jerome, who manages to reach the top level of university despite being born without a right leg.
“When I read the script, like so many other women, I identified with this life full of pitfalls,” Jennifer Lopez told reporters. “It’s a Latino story, so inspiring… It’s something that really touched me.”
Her appearance on the red carpet at North America’s biggest film festival was her first public outing since announcing her divorce from actor Ben Affleck, who co-produced the film with his friend Matt Damon but was not present in Toronto on Friday.
The film’s story is based on the true story of Anthony Robles, who became the 2011 U.S. college freestyle wrestling champion in the under 57 kg category. The athlete, who himself doubled Jharrel Jerome in several action scenes and partly produced the film, received a standing ovation after the screening Friday night.
TIFF returns this year with all its pomp, after an edition tarnished last year by the twin strikes of actors and screenwriters.
In addition to Jennifer Lopez, the red carpet will see many world stars pass by in the coming days.
– Pamela Anderson –
Actors Ben Stiller — whose screening of the film “Nutcrackers” was disrupted Thursday by the presence of several pro-Palestinian protesters — Orlando Bloom and singer Katy Perry were present at the opening night Thursday.
Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek, Cate Blanchett and Nicole Kidman are also expected to appear before the show closes on September 15, as are Elton John and Bruce Springsteen to present new documentaries about their epic careers.
In addition to “Unstoppable,” the second day of the festival — which features Oscar-winning films, family comedies and documentaries — featured a screening of director Gia Coppola’s latest work, “The Last Showgirl.”
The granddaughter of legendary Francis Ford Coppola and niece of directors Sofia and Roman Coppola, Gia Coppola, 37, directs Pamela Anderson in the film, who plays a seasoned dancer whose Las Vegas show is abruptly canceled.
After 30 years of walking the runways of “Sin City” in stilettos, her character, Shelley, must take stock of her future. “I think I’ve been preparing for this role my whole life,” Pamela Anderson said after the screening.
With this film, Gia Coppola attempts to show the behind the scenes of “Sin City”: what happens behind the spotlight and the glitter when the entertainment industry gets rid of those it no longer needs.
A total of 278 films are to be shown in Canada’s largest city.
Among the highly anticipated world premieres is Ron Howard’s “Eden,” a survival film set in the Galapagos Islands starring Ana de Armas and Sydney Sweeney.
sst/bpe/ube/rr
