by Jennifer Lopez and Kerry Washington are two of Hollywood’s biggest stars. Both are incredibly talented actresses and have built hugely successful careers for themselves. While they may not be pictured together at events all that often, it’s clear they share a mutual respect for one another. However, their friendship has an interesting twist – Kerry has said that when she was younger, Jennifer Lopez was actually her dance teacher!
Growing Up in the Bronx
Lopez and Washington have quite a bit in common, starting with where they grew up. Both women were born in New York City and spent their early childhoods in the Bronx. While their families had very different backgrounds and experiences, they shared the experience of living in the culturally diverse Bronx neighborhood during the 1970s and 80s.
The Bronx in those decades was a challenging place to grow up. It had high rates of poverty and crime. However, it was also a vibrant, artistic community with a strong sense of culture. For Lopez and Washington, who both had aspirations of working in the performing arts from a young age, the Bronx provided opportunities to develop their talents.
Both girls attended local dance and theater programs offered through the Boys & Girls Club of New York. This is where their paths first crossed, even if they may not have realized it at the time. The Boys & Girls Club was an important community organization that gave kids safe places to go after school and learn new skills. It helped shape Lopez and Washington into the talented, ambitious women they would become.
A Chance Encounter at the Boys & Girls Club
In a 2013 interview with Entertainment Tonight, Kerry Washington revealed the fun twist in her friendship with Jennifer Lopez. She shared that when they were just kids attending programs at the Boys & Girls Club, Jennifer Lopez was actually one of her dance instructors!
“We grew up in the Bronx, and I remember Jennifer teaching me hip-hop dance moves at the local Boys & Girls Club,” Washington said. “She was one of my dance teachers way back in the day.”
This was clearly a fond memory for Washington. It’s easy to imagine a young Jennifer Lopez, already passionate about dance even at a young age, helping to lead dance classes and show other kids new moves. Meanwhile, a similarly eager young Kerry Washington was soaking it all in, perhaps having no idea that one day they’d both be major stars.
It’s a sweet story of how their paths crossed before either could have imagined the success they’d find. They both received encouragement and inspiration to pursue their dreams from an early age through programs like those offered at the Boys & Girls Club. And apparently, Lopez played a small role in fostering Washington’s love of dance and performance. Their chance meeting as teacher and student ended up laying the groundwork for a friendship between two entertainment icons.
Parallel Careers in Entertainment
After those formative years growing up in the Bronx and crossing paths at the Boys & Girls Club, Lopez and Washington’s careers took off along parallel tracks in the entertainment industry.
Lopez was among the first to break out, becoming a star first in music and then film in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Her 1999 album On the 6 catapulted her to superstardom with hits like “If You Had My Love” and “Waiting for Tonight.” She established herself as a triple threat through movies like Selena, Out of Sight, and The Wedding Planner. Lopez proved she had the talent and star power to succeed in any medium.
While Washington got her start a bit later in the 1990s with roles in television movies and series, her big breakout role came in 2004. That’s when she starred as the lead character in the hit medical drama Grey’s Anatomy. Her nuanced portrayal of Dr. Miranda Bailey won her a Golden Globe and cemented her status as a serious dramatic actress. From there, she took on more prominent film roles in movies like Ray, Django Unchained, and Fantastic Four.
Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, Lopez and Washington both alternated between major film roles as well as producing and starring in their own television shows. Lopez had hits like Maid in Manhattan, Shall We Dance, and Hustlers. She’s also produced and starred in shows like Shades of Blue and the upcoming Netflix film The Mother. Meanwhile, Washington headlined Scandal for seven seasons, proving herself as a powerhouse lead actress. She’s also starred in acclaimed films like Django Unchained, American Son, and Little Fires Everywhere.
Both have seamlessly crossed over between film and television, showing their versatility. They’ve also used their platforms to advocate for important social issues. Whether producing their own content or selecting impactful roles, Lopez and Washington have consistently elevated diverse stories and promoted positive representation in Hollywood. All these years later, they still inspire so many as successful Latina and Black actresses, respectively.
A Mutual Admiration Society
While Lopez and Washington haven’t always been pictured together at events, it’s clear they have a mutual respect for one another’s talents and careers. Whenever they have crossed paths or been interviewed about each other, only positive things are said.
In a 2012 interview with Allure, Lopez gushed about Washington’s acting abilities, saying “She’s just so talented. I love that girl.” She admired how Washington had transitioned from television to film so successfully. Meanwhile, in that same 2013 Entertainment Tonight interview where Washington shared the dance teacher story, she praised Lopez for being “such an inspiration” as a Latina artist and actress paving the way.
Other times, they’ve shown support on social media. When Washington wrapped filming on Little Fires Everywhere in 2019, Lopez commented with praise, writing “You were amazing in this! Such a beautiful performance as usual.” And in 2021, Lopez gave Washington a shoutout on her birthday, posting a photo of them together at an event with the caption “Happy Birthday to this incredible woman!!”
Clearly they have a bond from their Bronx roots that was only strengthened by Washington considering Lopez her childhood dance teacher. Even as their careers took off independently, they’ve maintained a mutual admiration society. It’s a heartwarming friendship between two entertainment powerhouses who started out on similar paths.
An Inspiration for Future Generations
The story of Jennifer Lopez and Kerry Washington’s friendship is inspiring for so many reasons. Both have achieved incredible success in Hollywood despite facing challenges as women of color in a predominantly white industry. They’ve proven that with talent and determination, anyone can make it – no matter where they come from.
Knowing they grew up just miles apart in the Bronx, likely facing many of the same struggles, makes their rise to fame even more impressive. They’ve lifted each other up with words of encouragement and praise over the years. But more importantly, they continue inspiring future generations just by pursuing their dreams unapologetically.
For young Latinas and Black girls today, Lopez and Washington serve as living proof that they too can chase careers in film, television, music or any other field they desire. They show that no goal is out of reach. Their friendship is also a heartwarming reminder of how far acts of kindness, even small ones like teaching dance moves, can ripple outward over time.
Most of all, it’s a sweet story of serendipity. Two stars were destined to meet as teacher and student in their youth, never imagining the bond and success that would follow. Their chance encounter at the Boys & Girls Club in the Bronx laid the groundwork for not just a friendship, but two extraordinary careers in Hollywood. And that’s truly something special.
