The real-life inspiration behind Hustlers is stoked Jennifer Lopez portrayed a fictitious version of her on the big screen, but says Cardi B may have done it better.
Samantha Barbash, who in 2017 pled guilty to leading a crew of strippers as they drugged Wall Street bros and amassed huge bills on their credit cards, told Vanity Fair that Cardi nailed her cameo in the Lorene Scafaria film.
“Her 10 minutes was a great 10 minutes,” Barbash said.
“Even though she is not an actress, she was in the strip club world and she gets it.
“She would have maybe played a better me. Not taking away from Jennifer. But just because Cardi was in the business.”
Still, Barbash was effusive in her appreciation for Lopez, who “had it down to a T, but it wasn’t factual.”
She added she “wasn’t really that impressed” with other aspects of the film, given her claim she turned down an advisory role due to inadequate compensation.
Barbash’s comments come amid huge success for the not-quite-a-heist film.
Hustlers, which hits Aussie cinema screens on October 10, has racked up a US$33 million (AUD$48 million) since its American box office debut.
There’s also early awards season buzz for Lopez, who appears alongside Constance Wu, Lili Reinhart, Lizzo, and Julia Stiles as ringleader Ramona Vega.
Check out a trailer below, and judge the convicted scammer’s comments re: Cardi.
