Jennifer Lawrence After "The Hunger Games"

Jennifer Lawrence After "The Hunger Games"

When The Hunger Games debuted in 2012, it quickly became a cultural sensation. Fans everywhere were sporting mockingbird pins and humming the iconic four-note melody. Adapted from Suzanne Collins’ bestselling YA novel, the film is set in a dystopian future where the oppressive Capitol maintains control by hosting an annual battle royale. In this brutal event, children from each district are forced to fight to the death on live television.

The story centers on Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), a teenager who volunteers to take her younger sister Primrose’s (Willow Shields) place in the deadly competition. Alongside her fellow District 12 tribute, Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson), Katniss must navigate the treacherous arena, battling not only for survival but also against the tyrannical Capitol.

The film is well-known for its compelling love triangle involving Katniss, Peeta, and her best friend Gale (Liam Hemsworth). Beyond the romance, Katniss’s journey resonated with many young girls, inspiring them with her bravery and resilience.

The Hunger Games was a massive success, spawning three sequels released in 2013, 2014, and 2015. The franchise recently expanded with the 2023 prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which explores the early life of President Snow (Tom Blyth). This new addition has reignited interest in the series, making it the perfect time to revisit the original film that started it all.

After The Hunger Games premiered, Katniss Everdeen became an icon, inspiring kids and teens to braid their hair and take up archery. For Jennifer Lawrence, this role was a game-changer, propelling her to international fame.

Before her rise to stardom, Lawrence was known for her role as a suburban sitcom daughter on The Bill Engvall Show (2007–2009). However, it was her performance in the gritty thriller Winter’s Bone (2010) that truly showcased her talent, earning her first Academy Award nomination and recognition from the SAG and Golden Globes.

Lawrence also made her mark in the superhero genre as Mystique in X-Men: First Class (2011), a role she reprised in several sequels, including X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), X-Men: Apocalypse (2016), and Dark Phoenix (2019).

The same year The Hunger Games catapulted her to fame, Lawrence won an Oscar for her role as Tiffany in Silver Linings Playbook (2012). Her performance highlighted her comedic skills and solidified her status as a versatile A-lister. She continued to impress in American Hustle (2013), earning another Oscar nomination and winning at the Golden Globes and BAFTAs.

Lawrence continued her journey as Katniss in Catching Fire (2013) and wrapped up the series with Mockingjay — Part 1 (2014) and Mockingjay — Part 2 (2015). She even showcased her singing talent with “The Hanging Tree,” which reached No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Post-Hunger Games, Lawrence starred in Joy (2015), a biopic of Joy Mangano, earning her a third Golden Globe and another Oscar nomination. She then appeared in the sci-fi thriller Passengers (2016) alongside Chris Pratt.

Lawrence explored darker roles in Darren Aronofsky’s Mother! (2017) and the spy thriller Red Sparrow (2018), before returning to comedy in Don’t Look Up (2021) and No Hard Feelings (2023).

Nearly a decade after The Hunger Games series ended, Lawrence remains close with her co-stars. At the 2024 Golden Globes, she reunited with Lenny Kravitz, who played Cinna in the first two movies.

“If we had met each other in any different circumstance, we would still be best friends,” Lawrence told EW in 2015 about the Hunger Games cast. “And our love is as close to unconditional as it gets because there’s no fear between us because we love each other so much. There’s no fear in our love.”

In 2019, Lawrence married art gallery director Cooke Maroney. The couple welcomed their first child, Cy, in February 2022.