Jennifer Lawrence has become one of Hollywood’s biggest and most in-demand stars. The three-time Oscar nominee has proven her versatility, excelling in indies, blockbuster comedy-dramas, and huge action franchises. Her smart choices, combined with her naturally charismatic personality, have made her a fan favorite and even recently earned her the title of Vulture’s Most Valuable Star of 2014. With the actress set to reprise her role as the Girl on Fire in the upcoming Hunger Games: Mockingjay film this month, here’s a look back at 10 of her most memorable roles.
1. The Hunger Games
Lawrence’s leading role as Katniss Everdeen in the smash hit franchise may not be her most critically acclaimed, but it’s definitely the best known. Though the actress had already earned her first Oscar nod by the time she nabbed the highly coveted gig, it’s her participation in this movie and the following installments that really put her on the map and catapulted her to full-fledged stardom.
Source: The Weinstein Co.
2. Silver Linings Playbook
Lawrence’s portrayal of the moody widow Tiffany in this Best Picture nominee won her the Academy Award for Best Actress (which marked her second Oscar nomination) and the Golden Globe in the same category. Though her character was volatile, Lawrence brought a surprisingly sweet vulnerability and a touch of humor to the role that would’ve been lost in anyone else’s hands.
Source: Roadside Attractions
3. Winter’s Bone
Lawrence earned her first Oscar nod at the ripe old age of 20 for this 2010 film, making her the second youngest person to ever receive a nomination in the Best Actress category at the time. Often cited as her breakout role, her performance as Ree earned top critical acclaim, with reviewers claiming that only an actor as charismatic as Lawrence could portray just the right amount of quiet but steely courage and determination.
4. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
The second film featuring Lawrence as heroine Katniss Everdeen earned even better reviews than the first and became the fifth highest-grossing feature film of 2014. The huge continued success of the blockbuster franchise, which has raked in more than $1.52 billion worldwide, also made Lawrence the winner of the 2015 Guinness World Record for highest-grossing action heroine.
5. X-Men: First Class
Lawrence is one of the rare actors who can pull off iconic roles in not one, but two huge action franchises. Of course, Lawrence’s X-Men character Mystique is part of a large ensemble cast, not the lead. Still, her fresh take on the teenage version of the mutant (originally played by Rebecca Romijn), along with the other newly cast members, helped revitalize the entire series and bring it back to form. Lawrence’s version of the character is also well-liked enough that the possibility of a standalone spinoff film has already been thrown around (although nothing has been confirmed and the actress’s schedule is already jam-packed).
Source: Columbia Pictures
6. American Hustle
Lawrence is only in a few scenes in the 2013 Oscar-nominated crime comedy drama, but she steals every one of them. Her portrayal of Rosalyn Rosenfeld, the neurotic and aggressive wife of Christian Bale’s character, earned rave reviews and won her a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress. Lawrence also garnered her third Oscar nomination for the part, this time in a supporting category.
7. X-Men: Days of Future Past
Lawrence’s Mystique was purposely given more screen time in this installment of the X-Men franchise (largely to capitalize off the actress’s star power), but the actress still isn’t give much to do action-wise. But though the performance isn’t quite as impactful, especially compared to Lawrence’s other big roles, her portrayal is one of the more memorable, and the follow-up flick earned widely positive reviews, with a 92% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Source: Paramount Vantage
8. Like Crazy
Lawrence only had a minor role in this 2011 romantic drama, playing Sam, a work partner and the other love interest to Anton Yelchin’s character. Though it’s one of her most low-key roles to date and she only appears in a few scenes, Lawrence’s take on the character still manages to be heartbreaking — enough so that you can’t help but find yourself empathizing with her, even though she’s really just a detour from the main love story.
9. The Poker House
This was Lawrence’s first leading role in a feature film. In the Lori Petty-directed indie drama, the actress once again played a smart, determined young teenager desperately looking out for her family — in particular, her two younger sisters, who have been neglected by their prostitute mother. The film, though not widely seen, earned positive reviews, and Lawrence’s dark and gritty portrayal of such a wounded young soul makes it a standout.
Source: Paramount Pictures
10. The Burning Plain
Lawrence played the younger version of Charlize Theron’s main character in this 2008 film. Though the little-seen movie didn’t receive great reviews overall, all of the female leads (which also included Kim Basinger) earned praise for their moving performances. Lawrence, in particular, manages to make a big impression, even in a relatively small role, and won the only award the film earned — the Marcello Mastroianni Award at the 2008 Venice Film Festival, which recognizes the best young actor/actress emerging from the festival.
Source: wallstcheatsheet.com
