RICHARD GERE - GERE: 'J.LO KEPT HEARTBREAK AT HOME'

RICHARD GERE offered JENNIFER LOPEZ a shoulder to cry on during the filming of SHALL WE DANCE? - but she refused to allow her split from fiance BEN AFFLECK to affect her professional life.

PRETTY WOMAN heart-throb Gere often gave his sexy co-star a hug to ease her tension but he respected the fact she didn't want to talk about her faltering love life.

Gere says, "She was very professional. I mean, you could see clearly that this young woman was going through a lot of stuff, but she never brought it onto the set or made an issue of it in any way, although I know it was difficult for her.

"I remember there were days when I would just go to her and give her a hug, and you could feel the tension start to let go. But I never talked to her about it because she didn't want to."