Ben Affleck wasn't the only challenge Jennifer Lopez faced during the last year

Jennifer Lopez, one of Hollywood's most iconic stars, is speaking out about the struggles she faced at the start of her career, where Latina actresses were often confined to stereotypical roles. Appearing on Variety's Awards Circuit podcast, Lopez shared how her early struggles with typecasting, rejection, and self-doubt were compounded by other challenges, including her high-profile relationship with Ben Affleck.

"When I started, there weren't a lot of roles for Latinas," Lopez shared. "I was auditioning for parts with accents and stereotypes. I kept thinking, 'Why can't I just play a romantic lead? Why can't I be the girl next door?' That belief-that conviction that I belonged-was what helped me break those moulds."

Lopez, who grew up in the Bronx as the daughter of Puerto Rican parents, revealed how deeply ingrained stereotypes and imposter syndrome made her doubt herself early on. "When you come from really not a lot and you grew up in the neighborhoods we grew up in, you think you don't belong in certain places or certain rooms," she explained. "And it's hard because you have a lot of people telling you you're not all the time, especially if you choose a career like this, where a lot of this is subjective."

Lopez emphasized the importance of silencing

"It's kind of really being in tune with that inner voice and what you're telling yourself, which is the most important thing," she said. "And sometimes that could be your mom and dad's voice in your head, and then at some point, it's your responsibility to replace that voice with your own strong voice. That says, 'I can do this. I do belong here. I am good enough. I am doing the right things. I do work hard. I am talented.'"

The journey wasn't without struggle. Lopez admitted that growing up in the Bronx with Puerto Rican parents made her feel out of place in Hollywood. Overcoming this feeling, however, became the foundation of her success. "I heard someone say that positive change is slow-and it is-but as long as we're moving in the right direction, that's what matters," Lopez remarked.