Sarah Carracher
Despite the Oscar buzz surrounding Jessica Chastain’s performance in “Zero Dark Thirty” and Emmanuelle Riva’s in “Amour,” Jennifer Lawrence nabbed the Best Actress Oscar for her moving and relatable performance in “Silver Linings Playbook.” While her evident acting prowess undoubtedly plays a role in her recent surge to fame and extensive critical acclaim, her honest and (sometimes accidentally) comical personality has charmed the world into loving her on- and off-screen.
My interest in Jennifer Lawrence began when she was chosen for the role of Katniss Everdeen in “The Hunger Games.” Having not yet seen “Winter’s Bone,” for which she snagged an Oscar nomination for Best Actress at the age of 19, I was curious to see who would portray the heroine of the books I had speedily read and become attached to. After watching and reading only a handful of interviews with her, it was clear as to why she got the role: her infectiousness defines not only her own personality, but also her characters’ personalities. The effect her performance in any role has on the audience consistently reminds me of only one other actress: Meryl Streep.
While Lawrence has been preceded by countless other incredible actresses – Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, etc. – she and Meryl Streep share an utter sincerity and passion that is evident in all of their respective roles and in their relatable personalities. There is no “putting on airs” or pretentiousness in their mannerisms. At the Academy Awards on Tuesday, Lawrence laughed off an embarrassing fall on the stairs; as the next presenter, Streep joked about walking on her dress as she approached the microphone. Both actresses have a genuine and undeniable authenticity.
Much of Streep’s timelessness and continual success in the movie industry can be attributed to this sincerity, authenticity, and relatable-ness. These qualities are similarly embodied in Lawrence, signaling that this is only the beginning of a long and successful career in the film industry. Despite her role as Katniss in “The Hunger Games,” she has effectively avoided being typecast through a passion that she manages to adapt to a variety of characters and situations. At 21, she portrayed Tiffany, a widow, in “Silver Linings Playbook,” beating out more famous and age-appropriate actresses, such as Angelina Jolie and Olivia Wilde, for the role.
Lawrence only auditioned for “Silver Linings” as a formality because David O. Russell considered her too young for the role. Later, he stated, “There’s an expressiveness in her eyes and in her face, that many stars have to work for, that’s ageless.” This expressiveness and maturity are large components of her ability to transcend conventional acting. Rather than fulfilling a role or embodying a persona, Lawrence seemingly becomes another person and engages the audience in a way that few actors have been able to.
She will reprise the role that confirmed her spot in Hollywood, Katniss Everdeen, in “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” in November. Katniss, an unusually complex character for a blockbuster, gives Jennifer Lawrence a significant outlet to display her acting talent and ability – though acting seems an insufficient term for the life, passion, and personality that Jennifer Lawrence brings to any and all roles she tackles.
Saah Carracher is a writer for the Voice and can be reached for comment at SCarracher16@wooster.edu.