Jennifer Lawrence, beloved for her candidness, is now openly reflecting on her highly public mid-2010s persona, admitting that her “hyper” and outspoken interviews, though genuine, were often a defense mechanism against overwhelming fame. She reveals a profound feeling of being “rejected not for my movies, but for my personality,” offering a raw look into the pressures that shaped her early career.
In a revealing new profile with The New Yorker, Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence is taking a candid look back at the reputation she cultivated during the height of her fame in the mid-2010s. The star, now 35, addressed widespread perceptions of her as “annoying” in interviews, explaining the complex interplay between her genuine personality and the need for self-preservation under an intense public spotlight.
The Rise of a “Cool Girl” and the Shifting Public Gaze
Lawrence burst onto the scene in the early 2010s, quickly becoming a household name with critically acclaimed roles in films like Winter’s Bone, the blockbuster Hunger Games franchise, and the Oscar-winning Silver Linings Playbook, which earned her an Academy Award by her mid-22s. Her seemingly unfiltered, “cool girl” persona, characterized by self-deprecating humor and relatable anecdotes, initially charmed audiences and critics alike.
However, as her omnipresence in media grew, so did a subtle shift in public perception. Speaking about reviewing her past interviews, Lawrence admitted, “I look at those interviews, and that person is annoying. I get why seeing that person everywhere would be annoying.” This self-awareness underscores the unique challenges of navigating extreme celebrity.
Authenticity as a Defense Mechanism
What many perceived as pure authenticity, Lawrence now explains, was also a strategic coping mechanism. “Well, it is, or it was, my genuine personality, but it was also a defense mechanism,” she told The New Yorker. She recounted feeling overwhelmed by constant paparazzi attention and an incessant schedule of press engagements for numerous projects. This led to moments of exaggerated casualness, such as quipping, “I poop my pants every day!” in an attempt to demystify her star image.
The intensity of her early fame meant that Lawrence felt a profound disconnect. “I felt — I didn’t feel, I was, I think — rejected not for my movies, not for my politics, but for me, for my personality,” she shared, highlighting the personal toll of public scrutiny.
The “Spot-On” Ariana Grande Impression and Online Scrutiny
A pivotal moment in the public’s perception of Lawrence’s persona was Ariana Grande’s impression of her on a 2016 episode of Saturday Night Live. In a “Celebrity Family Feud” sketch, Grande’s portrayal of Lawrence as a “regular person” snack-aholic who eats entire cans of Pringles resonated widely. Lawrence herself acknowledged the accuracy of the spoof, telling Vogue in 2017 that the bit was “spot-f——on.”
The actress also recounted seeing the darker side of online commentary. She recalled a time after winning her Oscar when her production company partner, Justine Ciarrocchi, read a comment that stated, “She is a pig who should die.” While they could initially laugh about the absurdity, such intense hate undoubtedly contributed to the pressures she faced.
The Hollywood Hiatus and a Purposeful Return
The relentless pace and the overwhelming public scrutiny eventually led Lawrence to take a two-year hiatus from Hollywood. Having made 16 movies in six years, a string of which underperformed at the box office, her negative reception intensified. She famously told Vanity Fair in 2021, “I just think everybody had gotten sick of me. I’d gotten sick of me. It had just gotten to a point where I couldn’t do anything right.”
Lawrence further explained that much of her career was driven by a desire to be a “people-pleaser.” She felt that working incessantly meant “nobody could be mad at me.” However, reaching a point where her very existence seemed to displease people shook her out of the belief that work could bring “any kind of peace to your soul.”
Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty
Jennifer Lawrence does an interview in 2011
Looking Ahead: Authenticity and Craft with Die My Love
Now, as Lawrence returns to the press circuit for her new suspenseful psychodrama, Die My Love, she remains inherently herself. She humorously recounted getting her mouth guard stuck in her mouth right before her New Yorker interview, a small, relatable mishap that demonstrates her enduring, quirky nature.
Her return to film, notably with Die My Love, appears to be driven by a renewed focus on her craft. The film, which costars Robert Pattinson, Lakeith Stanfield, Sissy Spacek, and Nick Nolte, sees Lawrence in a challenging role as a mother struggling with psychosis. Notably, legendary director Martin Scorsese personally championed her for the role after reading the novel, urging her to “go take a chance” and challenge herself with an uncomfortable character.
Lawrence, who married art gallery director Cooke Maroney in 2019 and has two young sons, Louie and Cy, is navigating her career with a newfound perspective. Her reflections offer valuable insight into the human cost of celebrity and the journey to reconcile public image with private self. Die My Love is set to arrive in theaters on November 7.
