Jennifer Lawrence is hot in the new Hunger Games sequel,
No rest for Hunger Games star as she heads back into battle
LOS ANGELES Jennifer Lawrence is keeping it real, but the fantasy she’s living makes the process difficult sometimes.
How so? Lawrence earned an Oscar nomination for her role in Winter’s Bone after just a few years in the acting game. She followed the impressive breakthrough by landing the coveted part of Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games. If that wasn’t enough, she scooped up a supporting actress Oscar this year for her Silver Linings Playbook portrayal.
For those keeping track, she’s only 23 but always on the go. For instance, Lawrence returned to the Atlanta set of The Hunger Games sequel, Catching Fire, immediately after the Academy Awards.
But the self-deprecating actress decided to leave her statue at home rather than pass it around the day after the award-winning night before. In fact, she wanted it to be just another 14 hours at the acting office, although the good-natured Kentuckian knew what was waiting for her.
“The Oscar actually made me a target,” said a smiling Lawrence promoting Catching Fire at a Beverly Hills Hotel.
Co-star Woody Harrelson was especially naughty during filming Catching Fire. “Every time I would mess up a line, Woody would say, ‘Oh, you better give that Oscar back.’ ”
Playful jokes aside, Lawrence focused on the challenge of finishing up the action-oriented sci-fi sequel.
In the latest post-apocalyptic adventure, victors from previous combat years — including Katniss (Lawrence) and friend Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) — are forced out of retirement and into a battle to the death again as a distracting entertainment for the privileged class.
The object of the victors’ exercise is to celebrate the 75th Hunger Games, even as a grassroots rebellion against the autocracy gains momentum.
Returning to the fray is Donald Sutherland, who portrays the conniving President Snow. Back, too, is Liam Hemsworth as Gale Hawthorne, Katniss’s confidante. Stanley Tucci shows up as the smarmy master of ceremonies Caesar Flickerman.
Just as flashy is Elizabeth Banks’ Effie Trinket. Just as cool is Lenny Kravitz’s Cinna. Just as mischievous is the aforementioned Harrelson playing fight trainer Haymitch Abernathy.
New to the series are victors Fin- nick (Sam Claflin), Johanna Mason (Jena Malone), Beetee (Jeffrey Wright) and Hunger Games co-ordinator Plutarch Heavensbee (Philip Seymour Hoffman).
Another key Catching Fire alteration had filmmaker Francis Lawrence replacing Hunger Games writer-director Gary Ross. But the general elements of the world remain the same.
So does the cautionary political theme exposing the negative impact on a society ruled by absolute power.
Indeed, Lawrence said that she’s proud of the fact The Hunger Games and Catching Fire movies emphasize the socio-political concerns showcased in Suzanne Collins’s best-selling books.
“I think we have this (Hunger Games) society — that we unfortunately experience in our lives — because some people feel entitled to certain things,” Lawrence said. “We have been completely desensitized and the media continues to feed you what you want.
“Catching Fire is an example of seeing what happens if it is allowed.”
In Catching Fire, citizens rise up against the regime: “And it’s a wonderful example for young adults — you don’t have to follow the feet in front of you.”
Certainly, the Louisville native followed her own path. An ambitious teen, she made her show-business debut on an MTV show while working as a commercial model in New York.
A year later she moved to Los Angeles, and landed TV guest sports on Monk, Cold Case and Medium. There were film roles in The Poker House and The Burning Plain, which provided Lawrence with a prophetic best-young-performer award at the 2008 Venice Film Festival.
She also played Mystique in XMen: First Class and will reprise her part in the much anticipated XMen: Days of Future Past, set for a May release.
That’s even as Lawrence and company are filming The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1 and Part 2, set for release in 2014 and 2015, respectively.
Besides her appearance in Catching Fire this holiday season, the busy Lawrence also co-stars with Silver Linings Playbook buddy Bradley Cooper in David O. Russell’s American Hustle, featuring Amy Adams and Christian Bale.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire opens Nov. 22.