New Film: "Die, My Love"
Discussion about Jennifer Lawrence's latest film, directed by Lynne Ramsay, and her role in it.
- Inspiration and Role: Martin Scorsese suggested Lawrence read the book and play the role, highlighting his book club's influence.
- Personal Connection to the Role: Lawrence read the script while in a good postpartum phase, which allowed her to explore the darker themes of the character.
- Themes of the Film: The film is interpreted as a commentary on the societal pressure of idealizing domestic life and motherhood, and it explores a woman's loss of identity and rage within motherhood.
- Ambiguity of Character's Condition: The film's portrayal of the protagonist's mental state is intentionally ambiguous, with reviewers suggesting postpartum depression, bipolar disorder, or psychosis. Lawrence notes that this ambiguity allows for personal interpretation.
- Symbolism in the Film: The "forest" and "fire" at the end are discussed as potential symbols of cleansing and the characters' journey.
- Nudity in the Film: Lawrence reflects on the unvarnished nudity in the film, particularly given she was pregnant during filming, and discusses her liberation from vanity.
Postpartum Experiences and Mental Health
Lawrence shares her personal experiences with motherhood, postpartum challenges, and mental health.
- Postpartum Depression: Lawrence discusses experiencing postpartum depression after her second child, which was a surprise given her positive experience with her first.
- Physical vs. Emotional Postpartum: She emphasizes that postpartum is a physical experience due to hormonal shifts, and her second experience was marked by severe anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and fear.
- Seeking Help: Lawrence mentions utilizing therapy and a prescription medication (Zerzovay) that significantly helped her during her postpartum depression.
- Anxiety and Guilt: She discusses her lifelong struggle with anxiety and the pervasive guilt she experiences as a mother, constantly questioning her decisions.
- Coping Mechanisms: She uses reality checks and her knowledge that her children are happy and she has a supportive family to combat these feelings, a luxury her character in the film lacks.
The Sacrificial Nature of Motherhood and Creative Identity
Lawrence reflects on the sacrifices of motherhood and its impact on her creative identity.
- Sacrifice and Gratification: Motherhood is described as a sacrificial yet gratifying and rewarding experience.
- Balancing Creativity and Motherhood: Lawrence grapples with the feeling of loving her creative work as much as her family and the potential guilt associated with not wanting to give up her artistic pursuits.
- Finding Escape in Stories: During periods of high anxiety, she found solace and escape in literature, specifically on the American Revolution.
Navigating Early Fame and Public Perception
Lawrence discusses her experiences with early fame, public scrutiny, and the backlash she faced.
- Precariousness of Fame: She describes the feeling of being loved by the public as "precarious," always expecting it to change.
- Backlash and Misinterpretation: Lawrence recounts the public reaction to her tripping on the way to receive her Oscar, leading to accusations of faking it, which she felt discredited her and made her feel like a fraud.
- "Sick of Myself" Feeling: She expresses that she became tired of the constant interviews, public scrutiny, and seeing herself dissected in the media, leading to a need for a break.
- Young and Awkward Public Persona: Looking back, she acknowledges her youth, nervousness, defensiveness, and awkwardness during interviews in her early career.
Taking a Break and Recalibrating
The period of stepping back from the spotlight and what she did during that time.
- Life Without the Spotlight: Lawrence describes a period of living more simply, including being roommates with her cousin, watching TV, and spending time with her dog.
- Personal Life: This period also included falling in love and getting married.
- Interest in Art: She developed an interest in contemporary post-war art, influenced by her husband's profession as an art dealer.
- Meeting Her Husband: She recounts meeting her husband through a mutual friend when seeking an art advisor.
Authenticity, Public Persona, and Gendered Treatment
Lawrence reflects on maintaining authenticity in public interactions and her experiences as a female artist.
- Conscious of Public Image: She is more reserved and considered in her public statements now, aiming for authenticity over soundbites.
- The Journalist-Artist Dance: She acknowledges the inherent tension between a journalist seeking revealing answers and an artist protecting their private life.
- Gendered Experiences in the Industry: Lawrence observes how women are often tasked with being the "morality police" and are subjected to a different kind of public ire than men.
- Examples of Gender Bias: She cites the example of only female actors being asked about working with Woody Allen, while male actors are not.
- Rejection and Push-Pull: She describes feeling rejected by the public's shifting desires but now views this as a natural part of the industry's push-and-pull, necessitating control over access.
Working with Directors and Handling Intense Directorial Styles
Lawrence discusses her experiences working with challenging directors.
- "Teflon" Persona: While Amy Adams described Lawrence as "Teflon," Lawrence acknowledges her sensitivity but suggests she handles acting work differently.
- David O. Russell's Method: She found David O. Russell's direct, unfiltered feedback helpful, stating he communicated in a "non-bullshit way" and that she wasn't sensitive to his critiques in a degrading manner.
- Sensitivity and Acting: She asserts her extreme sensitivity, contrasting with her competitiveness in other areas like sports. She believes she is not sensitive about acting because she feels secure in her craft.
Future Projects and Preparation
Discussion about upcoming projects, particularly working with Martin Scorsese.
- Upcoming Scorsese Project: Lawrence confirms she is set to work with Martin Scorsese but jokingly expresses a lack of trust due to his reputation.
- Preparation Process: Her typical process involves panic, a brief meeting with an acting teacher, and then not seeing them again, which she now considers a superstitious ritual.
- Learning from Co-Stars: She admires Leonardo DiCaprio's deep commitment to his characters and was influenced by Christian Bale's approach to preparing on set, which inspired her to be more present and ready.
Political Engagement and Artistic Expression
Lawrence shares her evolving views on political activism and how she expresses her views through her work.
- Past Political Outspokenness: During the first Trump administration, she felt compelled to speak out due to the perceived urgency of the situation.
- Limited Impact of Celebrity Opinions: She now believes celebrity endorsements have little impact on election outcomes.
- Protecting Her Craft: Lawrence is recalibrating her approach to political commentary, wanting to avoid alienating audiences from her films and art, which she believes can inspire change.
- Desire for Peace and Solutions: She aims to contribute to solutions or de-escalate conflict rather than adding to division.
- Expressing Politics Through Work: Her primary way of expressing her politics is through her films and documentaries, such as "Bread and Roses" and "Zorofsky versus Texas."
- Regret and Shifting Political Climate: She expresses general regret for past statements but notes a difference in the political climate surrounding a potential second Trump term, which feels more decided and thus different.