On Air Now
Capital Breakfast with Jordan North, Chris Stark and Sian Welby 6am - 10am
8 December 2022, 12:54
Liam Hemsworth says kissing Jennifer Lawrence was “awkward” in The Hunger Games
"I remember when I was doing Hunger Games, nobody had ever put a woman in the lead of an action movie because it wouldn't work."
Jennifer Lawrence says she was the first woman to ever star as the lead in an action film when she did The Hunger Games.
There's no denying that The Hunger Games is one of the biggest franchises of all time. Fans couldn't get enough of Jennifer Lawrence's portrayal of Katniss Everdeen and the fictional dystopian universe of Panem. In fact, the films were so popular that a movie based on the prequel, A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, is in development and set to come out in 2023.
However, before The Hunger Games became a global sensation, film producers doubted that it could even be a success.
READ MORE: Jennifer Lawrence says she "worked so hard" to forgive her dad for being a republican
Talking to Viola Davis about the incredible critical and commercial performance of The Woman King in Variety's Actors on Actors, Jennifer explained: "I just love seeing stories like that. I remember when I was doing Hunger Games, nobody had ever put a woman in the lead of an action movie because it wouldn't work."
Jennifer added: "We were told girls and boys can both identify with a male lead but boys cannot identify with a female lead and it just makes me so happy every single time I see a movie come out that just blows through every single one of those beliefs."
Jennifer ended saying: "It proves that it is just a lie to keep certain people out of the movies, to keep certain people in the same positions they've always been in. It's just amazing to watch it happen and watch you at the helm."
Jennifer Lawrence & Viola Davis | Actors on Actors
While Jennifer's comments were initially met with praise, the quote about being the first woman to ever lead an action film quickly went viral line with people pointing out that Jennifer and The Hunger Games were not the first.
One person tweeted: "Jennifer Lawrence saying that she was the first woman to ever lead an action movie is so disrespectful to these icons," alongside photos of the likes of Sigourney Weaver, Uma Thurman, Michelle Yeoh, Pam Grier and Angelina Jolie.
Another wrote: "We have to acknowledge film history and how these actors have paved the way for film heroines today."
Jennifer Lawrence saying that she was the first woman to ever lead an action movie is so disrespectful to these icons. pic.twitter.com/9sIlFTA5lC
— Daniel Kwan (@danielhkwan) December 7, 2022
Jennifer Lawrence: I'm the first female lead action star.
— 𝒦𝒶𝓉𝑒 𝐹𝓁𝑒𝓂𝓂𝒾𝓃𝑔 🏳️🌈 (@authorkflemming) December 7, 2022
Sigourney Weaver: I beg your fucking pardon? pic.twitter.com/vaB2A46d4j
2003 - Underworld, Kill Bill
— suzie says (@eatthefishbish) December 7, 2022
1986 - Alien
2001 - Lara Croft
2000 - Charlie's Angels, Crouching T Hidden D
2002 - Resident Evil
2005 - V is for Vendetta
2011 - Haywire, Hannah
2010 - Salt
2008 - Wanted
1997 - GI Jane
1990 - Le Femme Nikita
etc. Sorry Jen, you didn't do it first.
With the upmost respect to Jennifer Lawrence, these women (and more) have pioneered female representation in action cinema.
— Yoko Higuchi (@theYokoHiguchi) December 7, 2022
Can we be doing more? Absolutely. A lot more.
But we have to acknowledge film history and how these actors have paved the way for film heroines today. https://t.co/ElzJoEuJhz pic.twitter.com/XiBK4pGlp6
However, people have also pointed out that Jennifer's comments were likely in reference to young adult movies and that the importance of what she said about studios doubting that female-led action movies can be a success needs to change. On top of that, people have pointed out that there are still very few female-led action films.
One person tweeted: "Look, I’m not saying that Jennifer Lawrence quote isn’t funny, but the fact that everyone is like “oh yeah what about this very specific handful of female led examples of action movies that are decades apart” sort of feels like maybe that isn’t the slam dunk they think it is."
Another added: "Jennifer Lawrence isn’t accurate about the female action lead never having been done but I bet she’s accurate that she heard from execs it shouldn’t be done. That bit sounds pretty real".
Look, I’m not saying that Jennifer Lawrence quote isn’t funny, but the fact that everyone is like “oh yeah what about this very specific handful of female led examples of action movies that are decades apart” sort of feels like maybe that isn’t the slam dunk they think it is.
— Riley Silverman (@rileyjsilverman) December 7, 2022
Sure, Jennifer Lawrence made a silly assertion in service of a much larger point re: Hollywood historically catering to a single demographic.
— Kendall Brown (@kendallybrown) December 7, 2022
But you had to look back nearly FIFTY YEARS to even name fewer than ten women, which supports her actual point about sexism in Hollywood. https://t.co/3vHUSNK9Yb
Jennifer Lawrence isn’t accurate about the female action lead never having been done but I bet she’s accurate that she heard from execs it shouldn’t be done. That bit sounds pretty real
— Valondar (@VK_HM) December 7, 2022
This controversy is stupid. Yes, Jennifer Lawrence is wrong about female led action movies, but her main thesis is correct. Engage with that, maybe you'll learn something. https://t.co/34bnr4vAb7
— Olivia Truffaut-Wong (@iWatchiAm) December 7, 2022
Elsewhere in the interview, Jennifer revealed that she was asked to lose weight for The Hunger Games. She said: "There were so many different opinions on what is this, basically this action figure for children, gonna look like. I remember the biggest conversation, of course, this was pre-#MeToo and I'm a woman so, it was weight, and you know, 'How much are you gonna lose?'"
Jennifer then explained that she decided it was important for her not to diet for the film. She added: "I don't know if I want all of the girls who are gonna dress up as Katniss to feel like they can't because they're not a certain weight. I can't let that seep into my brain either."
As it stands, Jennifer is yet to comment any further on her action movie remarks. We shall update you if she does.
Ross Lynch & Rocky Lynch vs. 'The Tower of Truth' | The Driver Era | PopBuzz Meets