OK! EXCLUSIVE: Jennifer Lopez — “I Didn’t Want to Be That Person Anymore”

She’s long been one of Hollywood’s hottest stars, but these days Jennifer Lopez has a private life that’s just as rich and rewarding as her career.

Her twins, Max and Emme, just turned 2 on Feb. 22. But Jennifer remains a working mom: She has a romantic comedy, The Back-Up Plan due out in April and a new album, Love, expected this summer. She sat down with OK! exclusively to explain how she keeps it all in balance.

Your private life seems to be your priority now.
I do have more of a private life now. That part of my life has changed. I just didn’t want to be that person anymore.

You seem to be much more relaxed than earlier in your career.
I guess I am. You start out young and confident, thinking you want to be an actress and singer. Then you actually do it and it’s great for a while, but then you have all this success and other things start becoming more important.

Is it hard to juggle work and family life?
I think you have to know what is most important to you. And I think you have to realize that as much as you put into your relationship and your children — but more so. That’s how you balance it. For me, my family is the most important thing and everything else comes after that.

OK! GALLERY: JENNIFER LOPEZ IS FLAWLESS AT 40!

You seem so happy and content with your life, despite how busy you are.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that the harder things are, the better things are. Where you’re test, that’s where you get to the next level in your life. You do things because your gut tells you to do them; then they can never be wrong because they’re right for you, no matter how [things are] perceived. The important thing is that you did it and you did it in the best way you could.

FOR MORE OF OK!’S EXCLUSIVE JENNIFER LOPEZ INTERVIEW, CHECK OUT THE NEW ISSUE OF OK! — ON SALE EVERYWHERE NOW!

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OK! EXCLUSIVE: Jennifer Lopez — “I Didn’t Want to Be That Person Anymore”