When asked about how she feels about the massive undertaking that is completing The Hunger Games franchise, star Jennifer Lawrence said that it will not totally hit her until Mockingjay Part 2 is finally in theaters.
“The feeling of accomplishment will happen more when the film finally comes out. We’re not really done working on it, in some ways. We still have to represent it,” Lawrence said at a recent press day.
Yet, the Oscar winning actress admitted that she never really sends her characters packing when the final “cut” is called by the director. “I didn’t really feel like I said goodbye to her. It’s funny, that’s what we do on every movie. We develop these characters and, a few months later, we never see them again. I guess I’m used to that, so I didn’t really feel it so much, character wise, at the end of Hunger Games,” Lawrence said.
“I think it will be pretty bizarre when the movie is finally out and we’ve finished this press tour and everything is officially done. I think that’s going to be a pretty weird feeling, just on a personal level. These movies have been my life for so many years.”
When it comes to the actual ending of the films of The Hunger Games series, Lawrence feels like there were two closing moments from shooting.
“There was the one when we wrapped the film in Berlin, when everyone was there and I said goodbye to everyone in the movie,” she said. About a year later, she got to share another moment with her nephews that could not have meant more to the proud aunt. Then, I had a last scene, with my nephews, which was so special. They played my children in the scene that I shot. It was amazing closure to this character who I’ve loved for so many years, and I had my blood family there. I got to say goodbye to both, at different times.”
It is too soon to reflect on how the series has changed her life, even though it clearly has professionally. But personally, that still make take years for Lawrence. “I hope I’ve grown up,” she admitted.
Keeping busy with other projects has been a terrific benefit to the exposure that The Hunger Games has brought. She’s got Joy coming out from David O. Russell, her latest film from the helmer who directed her to an Oscar nomination in American Hustle. She also has been busy with another franchise, X-Men, of which X-Men: Apocalypse is shooting right now.
Although she has been working constantly, Lawrence said that it is important to keep things in perspective. “Our jobs are so full-on. It’s 13 to 16-hour days, every single day. You’re in a strange city. You don’t know anybody and you don’t know your surroundings. Then, you wrap and you’ve got time off, which is great, but you just go to nothing,” Lawrence said.
“It’s hard to find a balance because you go from being over-worked and then, you get time off and your mind is going crazy. I hate waking up without a goal and going to sleep after achieving nothing. Now, I just obsessively work. On weekends, I meet with directors and pitch myself, or I write stuff that nobody will ever see.”
One thing (of many) that Lawrence is clearly proud of about the success of The Hunger Games is that it is the rare blockbuster that has a female hero in its lead. But, she also cautions that it’s good for everyone, not just women.
“I feel the impact of being a part of such a huge movie that does so much for so many people. It would be impossible not to. And I think that this character is so overwhelmingly supportive of women. I don’t feel a personal impact. I think if you ever become aware of that, it takes away from it, a little bit,” Lawrence said. “It’s the movie and the characters, and they have their own life. It’s like your avatar self.”
Lawrence was moved to pen a letter when it comes to the issue of equal pay for equal work. She discovered that her male co-stars for a certain film were making more than her. It promoted her to action. Despite what was sensationally reported, Lawrence wants to make clear what happened and why she did it.
“Yes, I did not make as much as my male co-stars, but it wasn’t so much complaining about not getting paid more because I’m a woman. It was more about how my mentality got in my own way of fighting just as hard as the men to get a better deal. Is that because I’m a woman? The only point of view I have is a woman’s point of view,” Lawrence said.
“There definitely wasn’t any foul play involved, on Sony’s part. They’re not going to give somebody more money, if they don’t ask for it. I hoped to just write more about how my own fears of how I was going to be portrayed. Even after writing it, I don’t remember what website it was, but it was called, ‘Jennifer Lawrence’s bratty display,’ and I was like, ‘Thank you for completely making my point.’ If a woman speaks up and is assertive and has a voice, she’s going to be called a brat. I just don’t see a man being called a brat.”