Jennifer Lawrence Reflects On Being Labeled 'Annoying' Early In Career

Jennifer Lawrence has acknowledged why critics and the media found her annoying in the early stages of her career. The Hollywood star, best-known for her role in the Hunger Games movies, is one of the most recognizable names in Hollywood. But, early in her career, Lawrence came under fire for what many perceived as a ‘fake’ personality.

This led to many articles being written about the young actress that presented her in a less than positive light. Lawrence has maintained a strong filmography through most of her career, but that has not prevented an image of her as an inauthentic and annoying actress, and the star has opened up on this perception of her.

In an interview with The New Yorker, she acknowledged that her younger self came across as annoying in some instances. However, she defends herself, explaining that, though authentic, her personality was also a defense mechanism, and that she was targeted by the press at a young age, concluding that she felt rejected for her personality. Check out Lawrence’s comments below:

When presented with old articles about her, and asked how it must have felt to have her personality and authenticity questioned, Lawrence winced.

“Oh, no. So hyper. So embarrassing. Well, it is, or it was, my genuine personality, but it was also a defense mechanism. And so it was a defense mechanism, to just be, like, ‘I’m not like that! I poop my pants every day!’”

She reveals that she anticipated the turn in public opinion, and that she felt targeted by the paparazzi.

“I was young, I lived alone, I was being chased.”

She continued by admitting she was doing too many projects and too much press, and that she understands why she came across as annoying. Lawrence even confesses that Ariana Grande’s SNL spoof of her was accurate.

“I look at those interviews, and that person is annoying. I get why seeing that person everywhere would be annoying. Ariana Grande’s impression of me on ‘S.N.L.’ was spot-on.”

Lawrence concluded by stating she felt rejected not for her movies, but for who she was as a person.

“I felt—I didn’t feel, I was, I think—rejected not for my movies, not for my politics, but for me, for my personality.”

It’s worth noting that Lawrence tasted success at a young age, scooping an Oscar nomination at the age of 19 for her breakthrough role in Debra Granik’s indie masterpiece Winter’s Bone. Two years later she shot to global fame as Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games movie franchise, and won an Oscar for her role in Silver Linings Playbook.

Lawrence’s work has earned her four Oscar nominations, and one win.

All of this happened early in Lawrence’s career, so it’s easy to understand why she felt out of place, and it’s likely from her comments, that she was struggling with a degree of impostor syndrome. Combating the trappings of fame and fortune, with trying to be professional, work hard, and come across as likable would take its toll on anyone.

Her unpredictable personality often made her the subject of media scrutiny, but also shines a light on the way outspoken actresses tend to receive more negativity than their male counterparts. The career decline of Katherine Heigl following comments she made about her Grey’s Anatomy character is an early example of an actress being painted as “difficult” for speaking her mind.

This is definitely something that Lawrence feels applies to her, and not without good reason. It’s fair to say that not everyone in the public eye has a personality that makes them likable, and in Lawrence‘s case, it’s likely that her personality was slightly exaggerated to mask her insecurities, but it’s good to hear she is much more comfortable with who she is now.