Jennifer Lopez and Ralph Fiennes have reunited!
On Saturday, Jan. 4, the Maid in Manhattan costars had an onstage Reunion at Variety‘s 10 Directors to Watch and Creative Impact Awards brunch in Palm Springs, Calif. — where Fiennes, 60, presented Lopez, 55, with the night’s Legend and Groundbreakers award.
Fiennes, who played politician Chris Marshall opposite Lopez’s Marisa Ventura in Maid in Manhattan over two decades prior, first commended the singer and 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.
“I am the senator, if you didn’t know,” he added, referring to his role in the 2002 romantic comedy. “In my brief stint as a Republican senator, I wasn’t very convincing. I didn’t stand a chance, really. To be honest, her powerful energy just leaves the men sort of, well, they’re just left behind, and off she goes, she blasts away. Jennifer, obviously I’m talking about you, you’re incredible. Your wings are unstoppable.”
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Fiennes then mentioned Lopez’s film Unstoppablecalling it “the story of heroism and love and courage.”
In the movie, which follows the life of wrestler Anthony Robles, Lopez plays the protagonist’s single mother, Judy Robles.
“The film reflects, I think, your fire, your force, your great creative spirit and your commitment to connecting, supporting other great souls, great women and their stories,” Fiennes told Lopez.
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As for Lopez’s own speech, she spoke about how her latest honor “means more to me than words can express” and detailed her push to champion “stories that matter.” She also showed some love to her former costar for honoring her.
“That was incredibly beautiful,” Lopez said when walking to 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 Manhattanin which Fiennes’ character falls for Lopez’s New York City maid who poses as a hotel guest.
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Last month, Fiennes spoke with PEOPLE about his memories of filming with Lopez on their Cinderella story, explaining that he didn’t feel as though he fully grasped his character in the film due to his knowledge of American politics at the time.
“It was rom-com writing. It was light,” the British actor recalled of the movie. “[But] I think I felt a little bit at sea sometimes. [I wondered] ‘Now, who is this Republican senator?’ My antennae for things American — I think — got better since. But then I think I was kind sometimes a little bit lost.”
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Elsewhere in the interview, Fiennes 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.
