Undercover girl

Sporting an unflattering cropped hair-do and with her stunning face, bruised and scraped free of make-up, it's not the usual immaculately-groomed image we've come to associate with the star.

But this is La Lopez in her most harrowing role to date - a battered wife who is pushed to the limit and ends up fighting back.

The part called for the svelte star to transform herself into a lean, mean fighting machine and it's clear Lopez loved every minute of it. "I was so excited when I was offered this because to me it was kind of a female 'Rocky' but more real and intense," she beams.

"It's more based on the kind of events that happen in real life. My character goes from being a normal girl working as a waitress to marrying Prince Charming. Then she loses it all, everything she believed in, and must fight her way back to take control of her life. I really responded to her courage and strength."

The hard-hitting role meant Lopez had to quickly become an expert in one of the most gruelling forms of martial arts. "I had to prepare quickly so I ended up doing Krav Maga, which is the official self-defence system of the Israeli Defence Forces," she explains.

"It focuses on combating realistic scenarios with moves that are based on common, instinctual reactions. It levels out the playing field between men and woman, where it doesn't matter how big or tall or strong you are. You can actually manoeuvre around that.

"It's about getting out of the way, counter attacking and using whatever you can to get the upper hand. I actually really enjoyed the training," she adds with an enthusiastic smile.

In fact the star admits she found the emotional scenes harder to do than the physical. She explains: "I'm a physical person by nature so I loved all that stuff. I'm very athletic and I've been that way since I was young. I always ran and danced and did tennis and stuff like that so getting physical was the easiest part for me, it was the emotional stuff in acting that was really hard to do.

"I found that part of it really draining and at one point went to the doctor because I was so tired. He told me to take a few days off, so I did and just spent the time relaxing."

Despite her own exhaustion and the fact the theme of domestic violence is at the heart of the movie, Lopez believes the overall message of the film is a positive one.

"If you're in these negative situations - such as an abusive relationship or whatever - you can get out," she stresses. "I think the power is always within yourself. That to me is the message, and although there are plenty of twists and turns in this film it was the message which attracted me to it in the first place - it's a very empowering one."

Fortunately for the 32-year old star, her own life couldn't be more different from that of her character. Not only is she enjoying a glittering pop and film career, she's also found her own Prince Charming in the form of dark-haired actor Ben Affleck.

The pair announced their engagement earlier this month and, despite being married twice before, Lopez is convinced this time around it will be third time lucky.

The pair met last year, while filming the upcoming gangster flick Gigli but Lopez admits she was at first wary of the Oscar-winning star.

"I just thought he was the typical Hollywood playboy type, skirt chaser," she laughs. "I couldn't have been more wrong. He's brilliantly smart, loving, charming, affectionate. I admire him in every way. I respect him and feel like he teaches me things."

Now sporting a pink diamond engagement ring Lopez also admits people regard the pair as a very unlikely couple.

"We're more alike and from the same kind of background than people realise," she insists. "We had the same kind of upbringing and same kind of family, same kind of house."

The couple are now busy planning a 2003 wedding and Lopez says having kids is also definitely on the agenda.

"I'm not conscious of my body clock yet, but I do want a family. A baby would be a big blessing in my life," she says.

However, marriage and babies will also have to be slotted into a very hectic schedule which sees Lopez embark on a mammoth tour in the new year and star in three back-to-back movies, Gigli, Jersey Girl and Maid in Manhattan.

One of the few pop stars to have made a successful transition to films Lopez now has an impressive back catalogue of movies behind her, including Out of Sight alongside George Clooney and The Wedding Planner, in which she starred with Matthew McConaughey.

But the star admits she will never sacrifice one career for the other.

"Someone was asking me whether I saw myself as more of a glamorous moviestar and, yeah, I see myself as that," she says. "But I also see myself as a little hip hop girl from the Bronx and I see myself as a rock n' roll person. Like everybody I have different sides."

And that includes being a bit of a tough cookie too. So, if push came to shove could J-Lo kick ass off screen as well as on?

"Let's just say leave it out there that I could," she laughs. "No really, I'm a veritable pussycat."

Name

Jennifer Lopez, the name often followed by "large rear", "Puerto Rican beauty" and "list of ridiculous demands/superstar tantrum".

Break?

Born in the Bronx in 1970, "J-Lo" was first seen as a dancer in stage musicals and a European tour of Golden Musicals of Broadway. Her TV debut was as, surprise, a dancer in "In Living Colour" alongside star in the making Jim Carrey.

Then What?

Roles in plenty of made for TV movies and drama series flops. Co-starred with Robin Williams in box office flop Jack, and turned to music in 1999.

After That?

Got involved with Puff Daddy/Diddy/etc. and played shoot 'em up after a night out with the rap star. And ended up in court. Married one of her dancers, Cris Judd in 2001. Promptly divorced him and continued to churn out hip hop/r 'n' b hits while being ranked as one of the world's most beautiful women. Busy.

Next Step?

Her remix album "J to tha L- O" has made chart history as the only remix album ever to go straight in at number one. Recently announced engagement to actor Ben Affleck, one half of "Matt Damon and Ben Affleck."

Quote: "I could serve coffee using my rear as a ledge." --Jennifer Lopez.