Jennifer Lopez Honors America Ferrera at Celebratory “Barbie” Screening: 'Your Role in This Film Is Truly Authentic'

The actresses applauded each other for their work representing the Latin community in Hollywood

Jennifer Lopez has lovely things to say about America Ferrera and the way she continues to represent the Latin community in Hollywood.

The "Let's Get Loud" singer, 54, introduced Ferrera, 39, at a special screening of Barbie honoring the Superstore actress's role in the film Saturday night at NeueHouse in Hollywood.

"Barbie is all about empowerment. It’s about the magic of the stories we tell ourselves, about our inner imaginary little girl playtime fantasies that turn into our real life big girl dreams and the knowledge that we can be whoever we want to be…no matter if we’re a girl from the Bronx via Puerto Rico, from Los Angeles via Honduras, or from Mattel via the magical pink box," Lopez said at the event.

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"There is no one in my mind that embodies this more on and off screen than my friend America Ferrera. She’s such an inspiration honestly. She’s such a constant in this business for Latinas for years and years and years already," she continued.

Lopez went on to say that she admires the younger actor's activism and talent, but described her personality as "even more beautiful" than the work that she does.

Related: America Ferrera Reveals Favorite Fashion Moment from the Barbie Press Tour: 'Felt Like a Badass' (Exclusive)

"What she does for the Latino community, she shows up when we need her, motivating us to use our voices, and to advocate for a better world. And I'm happy to be one who can say to her, thank you. Thank you for all that you do. It matters," Lopez continued. "And we appreciate you. America, your role in this film is truly authentic.

The love between the women was palpable as they hugged after Lopez spoke.

Ferrera then introduced Barbie, but not before telling the crowd she was crying. "You would be crying too if JLo just said those things about you," she said, adding that there was "no roadmap" for how to succeed as a Latin actress in Hollywood before Lopez paved the way.

"We're not just a footnote, we bring incredible value to why things resonate, why things are successful," Ferrera said of the Latin community.

Related: America Ferrera Reacts to Young Girls Doing Her Epic Barbie Monologue: 'Hilarious but Also Super Sad'

She then explained that playing the role of Gloria in Greta Gerwig's Barbie was important to her because she got to prove to the world that Latin stories didn't always have to be traumatic.

"When I said yes to doing this movie, it was personal and that it was a journey I wanted to go on. But it was a journey that I wanted for us. I wanted us to be in this and to be represented," Ferrera concluded.

At a Q&A session after the film. Ferrera said there was "purposefulness" in the role of Gloria, but "not tokenism."

"I wasn't in there to be a Latina. I got to be a whole person," she said.

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