Jennifer Lopez dazzled at the Toronto Film Festival on Friday with the world premiere of her latest film, Unstoppable. The true-story sports drama received a standing ovation, showcasing Lopez’s first red carpet appearance since announcing her split from Ben Affleck. Despite Affleck’s absence—he co-produced the film with Matt Damon—Lopez commanded attention in a striking metallic silver gown held together by oversized black velvet bows, paired with long, flowing hair and towering silver platform heels.
In Unstoppable, Lopez stars as Judy, the mother of high school wrestler Anthony Robles (played by Jharrel Jerome), who, despite being born with one leg, pursued and achieved his dream of becoming a US university wrestling champion. The film explores both Robles’s inspirational journey and the challenges faced by his family, with Don Cheadle and Michael Peña portraying his demanding coaches, and Bobby Cannavale as his abusive stepfather.
The film elicited applause during key moments leading up to Robles’s college championship victory, and the real Anthony Robles received a standing ovation from the audience at Roy Thomson Hall when the credits rolled.
Lopez shared her connection to the film during a Q&A session, highlighting the relatable struggles of her character and the inspiring Latino narrative. “When I read the script, I felt like so many women, including myself, could relate to the struggles that she had gone through,” she said.
Jharrel Jerome, who trained for five months with Robles to prepare for his role, acknowledged the challenge of portraying a real person. “As an actor, it is one of the most daunting tasks to portray somebody that is real,” he commented.
The premiere of Unstoppable was a standout event on the second day of the Toronto International Film Festival, North America’s largest film festival. The festival, returning to its full scale after last year’s strikes, also saw appearances from other major stars like Ben Stiller, Orlando Bloom, and Katy Perry. Upcoming appearances include Angelina Jolie, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Salma Hayek, Cate Blanchett, and Nicole Kidman.
Earlier at the festival, Gia Coppola premiered her new film, The Last Showgirl, featuring Pamela Anderson as a long-time Vegas performer facing an uncertain future after her show is abruptly canceled. The film explores the harsh realities of the entertainment industry, especially for women who are discarded when no longer in the spotlight.
Pamela Anderson reflected on the role, saying, “I think I’ve been getting ready my whole life for this role,” and noted it was the first time she had received a “coherent” script. Jamie Lee Curtis, who plays Annette, Shelley’s best friend, spoke emotionally about the film, describing it as a story about dreams and the often painful pursuit of realizing them.
