September 22, 2004

“Nearly a year after her much-discussed romance with actor Ben Affleck ended, and just months after her reported marriage to fellow songbird Marc Anthony, singer-actress Jennifer Lopez says she’s much happier now. ”

“I guess in a lot of ways, a lot of different ways,” she told ABC News’ Diane Sawyer in an interview airing on Primetime. “That’s how I feel now, like things are clearer than before. And I can relax a little bit. I can slouch my shoulders and be myself a little bit more.”

Watch Diane Sawyer’s exclusive interview on Thursday night, at 10 p.m. E.T.

Lopez spoke ahead of the Oct .15 release of her next film, Shall We Dance?, a romantic comedy about the lengths to which people will go to maintain passion in a relationship.

In an exclusive interview with Sawyer, Lopez and co-stars Richard Gere and Susan Sarandon reflected on what they have learned over the years about romance, love and marriage — as well as other life lessons.
Learning Process

Lopez’s reported marriage to Anthony is her third. She admits that she’s not an expert. “You learn things as you go … I’m figuring it out for myself as I go along,” she told Sawyer.

But one thing she’s learned about the institution is that it only becomes real when it’s tested.

“Both people have to really want to be there, you know, and they both have to make that choice. And it’s a compromise, and it’s how you treat each other when you’re hurt. I think that’s the most important thing,” she said.

“It’s all great when everything’s fun and great and lovely and everything. But I think in the hard times is when a marriage becomes a marriage or it just falls apart.”

Before her reported June marriage to Anthony, Lopez had a two-year relationship with actor Ben Affleck.

They had planned to get married last September, but called off the nuptials “due to the excessive media attention,” and separated a few weeks later.

Lopez told Sawyer she’s surprised how happy she is now. “There’s always a part of you that doesn’t believe everything once you’ve been through a lot,” she said.

Read the full story at ABC News and at Contact Music