In 1995, she appeared in Money Train alongside Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson, and in 1996 she had a role as Miss Marquez in the rather forgettable Jack. 1997 was a defining year for Lopez. Her role as the lead in Selena put her well in the public eye. Selena was very successful and propelled Jennifer Lopez into the spotlight. The film also allowed Lopez to showcase her singing talents and also introduced her to Ojani Noa, whom she married but later divorced.

Later that year, Lopez continued her rise to fame in Anaconda and Oliver Stone's U Turn. 1997 also saw Lopez get listed in People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People! In 1998, Lopez turned it up a notch in Out of Sight with George Clooney. This box-office hit helped confirm that she was here to stay. But she was not content with movie stardom... Later that year, Lopez took the Billboard charts by storm with If You Want My Love. Lopez made herself a sex symbol with her moves in that video and she's been gaining ground ever since.