It's been 20 years since the release of 'Selena'.
It's been 20 years since Jennifer Lopez personified the late Selena Quintanilla in Gregory Nava's Selena, and only ET was on the set during the making of the biopic in 1996.
The film, which garnered Lopez her first Golden Globe nomination, became the driving force behind her successful career. And, two decades later, the beloved singer continues to have a lasting effect on the Shades of Blue actress.
WATCH: Selena Quintanilla Has Her Own Wax Figure at Madame Tussauds!
"It's a really hard role," Lopez said at the time. "One of the hardest things was the accent. There's just so many different things to the role, [including] the singing and dancing. She was such an incredible performer."
"I'm not a singer," she continued, explaining that the film used recordings of Selena's songs for the project. "I haven't performed as a singer. I'm a dancer."
Selena was 23 years old when she was shot and killed by one of her fan club employees, Yolanda Saldívar, in 1995. At the time of her death, Selena was at the top of her career, having skyrocketed to the top of the Tejano charts with songs like "Como la Flor," "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom," and "Dreaming of You." She won a Grammy for Best Mexican-American Album in 1993.
"Selena was such a great role model and she broke so many barriers," Lopez said. "She did so much great stuff for the Latino community, and gave all these little girls somebody to look up to."
"The movie in that sense, can help in the same way, breaking down barriers in Hollywood [because] we've had so many problems getting good roles," she continued. "For me it's such a blessing. It's an honor to be able to do this."
WATCH: Selena Remembered 20 Years Later With Previously Unseen Home Videos
In January, ET caught up with Lopez at the launch of her new shoe collection with Giuseppe Zanotti, where she gushed about Selena's legacy.
"I honestly believe God sent me that role for a reason," Lopez explained. "So, I could learn from her and I could always have her as an inspiration. It's just a great lesson to know you're not promised tomorrow and you have to love and live for today."
"That character taught me so much about life," she continued. "[She'll always be an] inspiration and somebody to look to in my life, to help guide me on how to navigate this business."
Later this year, Selena will be honored with a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. For more on the iconic singer, watch the video below.
