Redford rates J-Lo as "natural talent"

Robert Redford has claimed Jennifer Lopez is a very good actress.

16:39 08 July 2004

Robert Redford has claimed Jennifer Lopez is a very good actress.

J-Lo has underwhelmed in recent years. After hitting the big time with "Out of Sight" in 1998 her performances have come in for criticism.

Nominated for the worst actress Golden Raspberry award in 2002, 2003 and 2004 she has seen her standing fall. She was recently removed from the trailer of "Jersey Girl" and had her performance in "Shall We Dance?" panned by test audiences.

But Redford disagrees, even after the "Gigli" debacle.

"She's a very good actress," the Oscar winning actor and director insisted.

"What, are they going to blame her for that film [Gigli]?

"I didn't pay any attention to that. All I know is what I saw when I worked with her. She's a natural talent. Fortunately, that's what I connected with."

Redford is acting with Lopez in "An Unfinished Life", which is due for release in the US and Canada in December.