Jennifer Lopez felt compelled to play domestic violence victim in ‘Unstoppable’: ‘We had similar struggles’

Jennifer Lopez revealed to audiences at the Toronto International Film Festival the moving reason she was drawn to her new movie, “Unstoppable.”

The star, 55, got personal during an audience Q&A on Friday following the premiere of the inspiring sports drama based on the true story of Anthony Robles, the NCAA champion wrestler born with only one leg.

Lopez, who plays Robles’ mother, Judy, said Judy’s struggle with domestic violence compelled her to take the role, as Judy’s struggle was “similar” to her own.

Part of “Unstoppable,” based on Anthony’s memoir of the same name, recounts Judy’s abuse at the hands of her husband. Played by Bobby Cannavale, Judy’s husband — who was not Anthony’s biological father — punches a hole in a wall and leaves marks on her arm in the movie.

“When I read the script, I felt like so many women including myself could relate to the struggles that she had gone through in her life,” Lopez said. “And the story, being a Latino story, being so inspiring. It was something that kind of grabbed me. And I was, like, OK, this is really really interesting.”

“But then when I met Judy [Robles] — we met over zoom — I was, like, I really need to talk to this person,” the “Atlas” actress added. “Thank God they’re alive! Because I’ve played real life people too. I played Selena, I played Puchi. And I didn’t have, I wasn’t able to speak to them obviously. So this was a different kind of experience.”