Jennifer Lawrence has been one of the most popular actresses in Hollywood ever since The Hunger Games series. But two years ago the internet rained down a hail of ridicule on her. Because in her opinion she paved the way for all women in the genre. Film history or not.
Jennifer Lawrence ignores 60 years of action history with Hunger Games statement
In a Variety conversation with actress Viola Davis (The Suicide Squad), Lawrence interpreted her role in the Hunger Games franchise as groundbreaking for all actors:
When I was filming Hunger Games, no one has ever cast a woman as an action lead, because it supposedly didn’t work. Apparently girls and boys can identify with a male protagonist, but boys alone cannot identify with one [Frau als Star].
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The punishment followed immediately. The Internet, especially action fans of course, poured tons of ridicule on Lawrence and her statement. They referred to various examples of women who had asserted themselves as leading actresses in the genre long before Lawrence.
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“Jennifer Lawrence was the first female action star [und] these women owe [ihr alles]“, is written maliciously above a list of actresses who have enriched the genre since the 1970s at the latest. Among them are alien heroine Sigourney Weaver, blaxploitation star Pam Grier and martial arts veteran Michelle Yeoh.
Especially in the Asian variation of the genre The tradition of female leading actresses goes back a long way. The Chinese actress Pei-Pei Cheng, for example, was already seen as a star in Hong Kong hits such as The Sword of the Yellow Tigress from the 1960s.
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“We must acknowledge film history and the actresses who paved the way for today’s film heroines“, writes one user. Just one day later, Jennifer Lawrence spoke up again on the topic.
Jennifer Lawrence withdrew her statement just one day later
The following day, Jennifer Lawrence spoke about the topic again – this time with the Hollywood Reporter. She immediately realized her mistake:
It was my mistake and came across wrong […]. I know I’m not the only woman who’s ever played an action lead. I wanted to emphasize how good it feels. But I was [sehr aufgeregt], because I’m with a living legend [Viola Davis] spoke.
Regardless of whether she makes a faux pas or not, Jennifer Lawrence can boast of being one of the greatest action actresses in Hollywood – just not a pioneer.