Jennifer Lopez Dazzles in Dreamy Lavender Look as She Kicks Off Awards Season at Palm Springs Film Festival

Lopez received the Legend & Groundbreaker Award at the festival, and is one of Variety’s 10 Directors to Watch and Creative Impact Awards honorees for her role in ‘Unstoppable’

Jennifer Lopez wears a purple gown at Variety’s The Creative Impact Awards and 10 Directors To Watch Brunch at the Palm Springs International Film Festival. Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty

For her first look of awards season, J.Lo went lavender!

It may be the middle of winter, but Jennifer Lopez, 55, brought an early spring vibe to the 2025 Palm Springs International Film Festival, arriving at Variety‘s Creative Impact Awards and 10 Directors to Watch brunch on Saturday, Jan. 4 in a dreamy, purple dress.

At the star-studded event — where she was honored with the Legend & Groundbreaker Award by her Maid in Manhattan costar Ralph Fiennes — Lopez rocked a bright, pastel-colored look featuring a unique sheer overlay.

The see-through outer layer enveloped the actress, from its high-neck to its ultra-low-hanging sleeves and hem, which brushed up against the floor. Underneath, she wore a simple, halter-top minidress.

To accessorize, Lopez kept things simple, pairing the flowy, lilac frock with a pair of clear heels and a small black and gold clutch.

Jennifer Lopez wears a purple gown at Variety’s The Creative Impact Awards and 10 Directors To Watch Brunch at the Palm Springs International Film Festival.Emma McIntyre/Variety via Getty

She also kept things light with her makeup, sporting a glowy, blush-heavy glam, including a neutral, glossy lip; a warm, glittering eye look; and lots of highlight. For her hair, she opted for a half-up, half-down style, revealing a pair of crystal drop earrings, also in a shade of light purple.

Jennifer Lopez Says Being a Mom Who Puts Her ‘Best Foot Forward’ Doesn’t Stop Her from Being a ‘Human Being Who Struggles’

At the festival, Lopez was not only the Legend & Groundbreaker Award recipient, but also one of Variety’s 10 Directors to Watch and Creative Impact Awards honorees for her role in Unstoppable, alongside Emilia Pérez director Jacques Audiard and Wicked‘s Cynthia Erivo.

In the film — which debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2024 and in theaters on Dec. 6 — Lopez plays Anthony Robles’ mother, Judy. The biopic focuses on the Arizona-born athlete who was born with one leg as he establishes himself as a wrestling champion.

Jennifer Lopez wears a purple gown at Variety’s The Creative Impact Awards and 10 Directors To Watch Brunch at the Palm Springs International Film Festival.Kevin Winter/Getty

At the film’s TIFF debut, Lopez told PEOPLE that playing a character in a “dysfunctional and unhealthy” relationship in Unstoppable was cathartic.

“Women who are moms who get in relationships, and you struggle with them, and you find yourself in dynamics that are not healthy, but you care about the person, love the person,” she said at the time. “That’s those complicated dynamics about life that I understand really well.”

But many other elements contribute to her connection with Judy, she told Variety in an interview published Jan. 1. They’re both Latinas who grew up in the United States, both had children for whom they want the best, and both have had to navigate hard relationships while still prioritizing family.

Jennifer Lopez at a special screening of ‘Unstoppable.’.Eric Charbonneau/Amazon MGM Studios via Getty

Lopez sees herself and her character as “kindred spirits” and highlighted women’s ability to tap into strength when needed.

“Women are strong. We have to be,” she told Variety. “From the minute women are born, we’re always having to prove ourselves, to show we’re good enough. That creates a type of strength.”

Beyond her long careers as both an actress and a musician, Lopez is widely known for her trailblazing, racy looks, from her bold Met Gala style to her internet-breaking green Versace dress.

Jennifer Lopez at the 2024 IndieWire Awards.Rich Polk/IndieWire via Getty

On her last trip across the red carpet at the 2024 IndieWire Awards, Lopez proved even a turtleneck can be sexy — she sported a long, sheer silver dress with a short turtleneck and thin long sleeves. The actress finished the look with silver drop earrings.