At 18 years old, she got into a fight with her parents because she wanted to be an artist, traveled to Europe for 5 months with a dance company, and when she returned, began working on "In Living Color". From there, she worked on three miniseries and the movies "My Family" and "Money Train".

Today she's taking "Selena" to the big screen and is the first Latina to earn $1 million for a movie…

A few days ago, Jennifer assisted at a Hollywood convention and couldn't contain herself. She went off to a corner and called her mother screaming, "Mom, I'm next to Forrest Gump and Warren Beatty!"

Jennifer, a 25 year old Puerto Rican from the Bronx who loves rice and chick peas and pastels still hasn't gotten used to fame and still gets surprised when she sees famous people.

This makes sense, because 10 years ago, she was paid just $10 to appear as an extra in a music video. Today, she's earning $1 million to play Selena in the movie about her life, which began filming August 26 in San Antonio, TX.

The day that Yolanda Saldivar killed Selena, Jennifer was working. She doesn't remember what she was doing, but she was very surprised to hear the news because she was a fan of hers. "I heard that they killed her, so I got stuck watching the news. The more I heard about her life, the more I admired her.

Jennifer, how did you feel when you found out that you were getting a million dollars? What was the first thing you bought?
"I've shopped in all the stores! There aren't any left for me to shop in. I've also helped my family. But, to be honest, I've thought about the project more than the million."

Criticism also came with the million. Many people didn't like that after so many auditions, they picked a Puerto Rican actress that did not resemble Selena.

"The only thing I can tell the 20,000 girls who tried out is not to let this stop them. Keep dreaming and trying to accomplish your goals like I did. In reality, I've felt like the Latin community is supporting me throughout this project. Maybe a few people have criticized me, but then the press reports it because it's controversial. We should be happy, though, because it could've been Winona Ryder playing Selena!"

The day that Warner Brothers held the press conference announcing who they cast as Selena, Julia Rodriguez, Jennifer's grandmother couldn't turn her TV off all day. "When she saw me on TV and speaking Spanish, she called to congratulate me", says Jennifer, in English (the language she feels most comfortable speaking). "But don't think that she was congratulating me on getting the part! It was because of how well I spoke in Spanish. She told me she was very happy that I had learned so much Spanish. Unfortunately, they didn't show me a lot of Spanish, but I will show my kids how to speak it, because I think it's very important to maintain our Spanish roots."

That's one of the many ways that Jennifer is similar to Selena. "Sometimes, I too say ten and four instead of fourteen" says Jennifer giggling.

"In reality, I've tried to capture her essence without imitating her. I've tried to capture some of her manners…When she died, I felt so bad. We all felt bad! Today I feel like, who would've thought that someone so close to her would do that."

"It's been really nice for me to be able to spend time with her family in addition to learning about her by watching videos and performances. Sometimes I feel like crying when I see that stuff because I'm so emotionally involved. This movie isn't about her death. It's about her life and the life of her family who worked so hard to become successful."

According to Gregory Nava, the director, this is the most important movie for the Latin community in the US. This makes Jennifer one of the most important Latinas in Hollywood.

"Being Latina has helped me now that being Latino is 'in'. But I also think that hopefully, this will open doors for others."

But Selena is not the only key to this door. In August, Jack, a movie where Jennifer plays Robin William's teacher, premiered. At the end of the year, Blood & Wine will be released and she just finished filming Anaconda. Selena will finish filming in November and in December, 2 years since Selena's death, the movie will be released.

In between all these projects…"I'm dying to go to Puerto Rico to relax", says the laughing woman who still can't watch kissing scenes on TV with her father. That's why she doesn't like to be compared to Demi Moore. "I don't know if I'd be able to be nude like she was in Striptease, or even pose nude like she has. I still think like a Latina. I think, 'what will my father say when he sees me?'"

Not much time has passed since she moved to LA and she had to get rid of her Bronx accent. Today, the million dollar Latina has the formula to get it and is proud of it. "You know how I got it? By working. I got my million by working and never thinking that I'd fail."

Side Article:

Even though Jennifer has earned a million dollars, she doesn't own a home. She lives in LA in a rented apartment and her assistant is her best friend. In a sweet voice she says, "I don't own anything."

Not even a car? "Well, that yes. I have 2. A Mercedes and a Jeep." She doesn't say anything more.

In addition to being simple and sweet, Jennifer is modest. We keep pressing and finally, we find out that it's a silver Mercedes, but she doesn't know what kind. We then asked, Jennifer, which car is most like you? "Both cars represent both sides of my personality. When I feel like a lady, I go in the Mercedes. But when I want to have fun, I go in the jeep."