'Freaked out': Jennifer Lopez recalls feeling surprised about her 'new level of fame' after being recognized in public

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Jennifer Lopez shared her poignant reflections on her rise to fame following the recognition she received for her iconic role in the biopic 'Selena.'

Following the release of the 1997 film, Lopez was not just 'Jenny From the Block' anymore.

Jennifer Lopez recalls the moment she realized she is 'not anonymous anymore'

In an interview with Variety, the 54-year-old recalled the first time she was ever recognized on the street.

Lopez opened up about the moment that put into perspective just how famous she was becoming while reflecting on the 1997 film Selena in a video interview. 

"That was when I kind of became famous," the pop star said of the biopic based on the life of Tejano star Selena Quintanilla.

"I had been doing television and actually had done a few movies already, but with 'Selena', there was a new level of fame," she said.

 "I remember walking down the street and somebody calling my name and thinking it was somebody who knew me. And I turned around and didn’t know them," she added.

The Grammy-nominated artist further shared how confused she was when excited fans came up to her. "I got so freaked out,” shared Lopez.

"I was like, ‘Oh my God, I’m not anonymous anymore. I can’t just walk down the street. Like, if somebody calls me, it’s not somebody I know, it’s somebody I don’t know,’” she continued. 

Jennifer Lopez says rise to fame was an 'adjustment period' for her

Lopez explained that she eventually appreciated similar fan interactions after she was propelled to fame for her titular role in 'Selena'.

"That was such an adjustment period for me. But then, you know, you kind of get used to it and embrace it and see it for what it is, which is kind of like love," she shared.

In 2022, celebrating the hit film's 25th anniversary, the 'On the Floor' singer paid tribute to the late Mexican singer and the biopic as she took to Instagram to share a few old pictures and a video of herself in 1997, appearing on 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' alongside the musician’s family.

"What a very special day. Today we celebrate and honor 'Selena's legacy and music," she wrote in the caption.

"This movie means so much to me … 'Selena' and her family mean so much to me, and I was so lucky to be chosen to play her," she added.

"I'll never forget this time in my life and it's an honor as an artist to have been part of the magic that is this movie," she continued.