Jennifer Lawrence Biography 2024: Age, Net Worth, Family, Relationship, Height, Education, Personal Life, Career, Awards and Nomination

Jennifer Lawrence, born on August 15, 1990, is an acclaimed American actress.

Renowned for her roles in both blockbuster action films and thought-provoking independent dramas, her movies have amassed a staggering $6 billion in global box office revenue.

Recognized as the highest-earning actress in the world for the years 2015 and 2016, she was also featured in Time’s prestigious list of the 100 most influential individuals in 2013, as well as the Forbes Celebrity 100 list from 2013 to 2016.

Jennifer Lawrence embarked on her professional journey as a teenager, landing guest roles on television.

Her breakout came as a main cast member on the sitcom The Bill Engvall Show (2007–2009).

She made her silver screen debut with a supporting role in the drama Garden Party (2008) and rose to fame portraying a poverty-stricken teenager in the independent film Winter’s Bone (2010).

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Lawrence’s career soared as she took on the roles of Mystique in the X-Men film series (2011–2019) and Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games film series (2012–2015), making her the highest-grossing action heroine.

Collaborating with filmmaker David O. Russell on three films, Lawrence garnered critical acclaim and accolades.

Her portrayal of a troubled young widow in the romance Silver Linings Playbook (2012) earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress at the age of 22, making her the second-youngest winner in the category.

She also won the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance as an unpredictable wife in the black comedy American Hustle (2013).

Lawrence received Golden Globe Awards for both roles and for her portrayal of businesswoman Joy Mangano in the biopic Joy (2015).

After a brief hiatus due to mixed reviews and media scrutiny, Lawrence returned with the streaming film Don’t Look Up (2021), followed by producing and starring in the drama Causeway (2022) and the comedy No Hard Feelings (2023).

A staunch feminist, Lawrence is a vocal advocate for women’s reproductive rights. In 2015, she established the Jennifer Lawrence Foundation, which supports the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the Special Olympics.

In 2018, Lawrence founded the production company Excellent Cadaver.

She actively participates in the nonpartisan nonprofit anti-corruption organization RepresentUs, serving as a spokesperson in its videos advocating for the protection of democracy.

Early Life and Education

Jennifer Shrader Lawrence was born on August 15, 1990, in Indian Hills, Kentucky, to Gary, a construction company owner, and Karen (née Koch), a summer camp manager.

She has two older brothers, Ben and Blaine.

Her mother raised her to be resilient like her brothers, and did not allow her to play with other girls in preschool, as she considered her too rough with them.

Lawrence attended Kammerer Middle School in Louisville.

Despite struggling with hyperactivity and social anxiety during her childhood, she found solace in performing on stage, which gave her a sense of achievement.

Her school activities included cheerleading, softball, field hockey, and basketball, even playing on a boys’ team coached by her father.

Growing up, Lawrence enjoyed horseback riding and frequently visited a local horse farm.

She suffered an injured tailbone from being thrown off a horse. When her father worked from home, she would entertain him by dressing up as a clown or ballerina.

Lawrence’s first acting role came at the age of nine, playing a prostitute in a church play based on the Book of Jonah. Over the following years, she continued to participate in church plays and school musicals.

Lawrence, at the age of 14, was on a family vacation in New York City when a talent scout spotted her on the street.

This scout then arranged for her to audition for talent agents.

Despite her mother’s initial reluctance towards Lawrence pursuing an acting career, she temporarily relocated the family to New York so that Lawrence could read for various roles.

Following her first cold reading, the agents praised Lawrence’s talent, stating that it was the best they had seen from someone so young.

However, her mother managed to convince her that they were being dishonest. Lawrence later revealed that her early experiences were challenging as she felt isolated and without friends.

Eventually, she signed with CESD Talent Agency, which persuaded her parents to allow her to audition for roles in Los Angeles.

While her mother encouraged her to pursue modeling, Lawrence insisted on acting, believing it to be a natural fit for her abilities.

As a result, she declined numerous modeling offers. At the age of 14, Lawrence made the decision to drop out of school without obtaining a General Educational Development (GED) or diploma.

She described herself as “self-educated” and emphasized that her career was her main priority.

In between her acting commitments, Lawrence regularly visited Louisville, where she worked as an assistant nurse at her mother’s camp.

Career

Lawrence commenced her acting career by taking on a minor role in the television pilot Company Town (2006), which unfortunately was never picked up for sale.

Following this, she made guest appearances in various television shows such as Monk (2006) and Medium (2007).

Her first major role as a series regular came in the TBS sitcom The Bill Engvall Show, where she portrayed Lauren, the rebellious teenage daughter of a family residing in suburban Louisville, Colorado.

The show premiered in 2007 and lasted for three seasons.

Critics like Tom Shales of The Washington Post praised her for stealing scenes, while David Hinckley of the New York Daily News commended her for capturing the essence of teenage girls’ perpetual exasperation.

In 2009, Lawrence was honored with a Young Artist Award for Outstanding Young Performer in a TV Series for her role.

In 2008, Lawrence made her film debut in the drama film Garden Party, playing the role of a troubled teenager named Tiff.

She then appeared in Guillermo Arriaga’s first feature film, The Burning Plain (2008), a drama presented in a hyperlink format.

Her character was the teenage daughter of Kim Basinger’s character, who uncovers her mother’s affair.

She shared the role with Charlize Theron, who portrayed the older version of her character.

Critics like Mark Feeney of The Boston Globe described her role as challenging, but Derek Elley of Variety praised her as the production’s standout performer.

Her performance at the 2008 Venice Film Festival earned her the Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Emerging Actress.

Additionally, she starred in the music video for the song “The Mess I Made” by Parachute the same year.

Lawrence also appeared in Lori Petty’s drama The Poker House in 2008, playing the eldest of three sisters living with a mother struggling with drug abuse.

Stephen Farber of The Hollywood Reporter noted that Lawrence displayed a poignant grace on screen that conveyed the resilience of children.

She received an Outstanding Performance Award at the Los Angeles Film Festival for her role in the film.

Lawrence’s big break came in Debra Granik’s independent drama Winter’s Bone (2010), which was adapted from Daniel Woodrell’s novel of the same name.

In the film, she portrayed 17-year-old Ree Dolly, a teenage girl living in poverty in the Ozark Mountains who takes care of her mentally ill mother and younger siblings while searching for her missing father.

To prepare for the role, Lawrence spent time with the real-life family the story was based on, learning skills like fighting, skinning squirrels, and chopping wood.

Critics praised her performance, with David Denby of The New Yorker stating that the film “would be unimaginable with anyone less charismatic” and Peter Travers of Rolling Stone describing her acting as “a gathering storm.”

Winter’s Bone won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival, and Lawrence received the National Board of Review Award for Breakthrough Performance.

She also earned her first Golden Globe, SAG, and Academy Award nominations for Best Actress, making her the second-youngest Best Actress Oscar nominee at that time.

In 2011, Lawrence took on a supporting role in the romantic drama Like Crazy, which focused on long-distance relationships.

The film starred Anton Yelchin and Felicity Jones. Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times praised the movie, describing it as an “intensely emotional and highly satisfying love story.”

Turan also commended the performances of all three actors, noting that they effectively conveyed their characters’ yearning.

Lawrence then appeared alongside Yelchin once again in Jodie Foster’s The Beaver, which also featured Foster and Mel Gibson.

The production of the film, which was shot in 2009, faced delays due to controversy surrounding Gibson.

Unfortunately, The Beaver earned less than half of its $21 million budget.

Following her critically acclaimed role in Winter’s Bone, Lawrence sought a change of pace and found it in her first major release, X-Men: First Class (2011), directed by Matthew Vaughn.

The film served as a prequel to the X-Men series and Lawrence portrayed the shapeshifting mutant Mystique, a character previously played by Rebecca Romijn.

Vaughn chose Lawrence for the role because he believed she could effectively convey both the vulnerability and strength inherent in the character’s transformation.

To prepare for the role, Lawrence underwent physical training and weight loss, as well as practiced yoga.

Additionally, she had to endure eight hours of makeup to achieve Mystique’s blue form, similar to what Romijn had done in the previous films.

This process required Lawrence to arrive on set at 2 a.m. Lawrence admitted feeling intimidated by the role, as she held great admiration for Romijn.

Claudia Puig of USA Today praised X-Men: First Class as a “stylish reboot” of the franchise and highlighted Lawrence’s spirited performance as a driving force behind the film’s success.

With a worldwide box office gross of $350 million, X-Men: First Class became Lawrence’s highest-grossing film at that time.

In 2012, Lawrence portrayed Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games, a film adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ trilogy.

The story is set in a post-apocalyptic world where Everdeen becomes a rebel against a totalitarian regime after winning a brutal televised event.

Initially hesitant due to the film’s scale, Lawrence eventually accepted the role with her mother’s encouragement.

She underwent rigorous training for the part, including archery, climbing, and combat techniques.

Despite an injury during training, Lawrence’s performance as Everdeen received critical acclaim.

The Hunger Games was well-received, with Lawrence’s portrayal praised by critics.

The film’s commercial success, grossing over $690 million worldwide, solidified Lawrence as a top-grossing action heroine and established her as a global star.

In 2016, Lawrence kicked off the year by lending her voice to the narration of A Beautiful Planet, a documentary that delves into the wonders of Earth as seen from the International Space Station.

She reprised her role as Mystique for the third time in X-Men: Apocalypse, a film that received mixed reviews due to its excessive action, which overshadowed the story’s themes and the performances of the cast.

Despite the criticism, Lawrence was honored with the Favorite Movie Actress award at the 43rd People’s Choice Awards.

She also starred in Passengers, a science fiction romance, alongside Chris Pratt. Lawrence was paid a staggering $20 million for her role and was given top billing.

While filming intimate scenes with Pratt, Lawrence admitted to feeling nervous and resorted to alcohol to ease her anxiety. Passengers, however, received underwhelming reviews, much to the surprise of the cast and crew.

Lawrence initially defended the film, referring to it as a “tainted, complicated love story,” but later expressed regret over her involvement.

In 2017, Lawrence appeared in Darren Aronofsky’s psychological horror film Mother! as a young wife who faces trauma when her home is invaded by unexpected guests.

Despite her previous aversion to rehearsals, Lawrence spent three months rehearsing for the film in a Brooklyn warehouse.

The intense role took a toll on her, leading to moments of hyperventilation and even a dislocated rib. Mother! divided audiences and caused numerous walkouts.

Lawrence took on the lead role in Causeway (2022), an independent drama directed by Lila Neugebauer, where she portrayed a soldier dealing with a brain injury.

Additionally, she served as a producer for the film through her company Excellent Cadaver, which she established in 2018.

Despite her involvement in high-budget productions, Lawrence was captivated by the “slow melody of a character-driven story”.

Allison Wilmore of Vulture compared Causeway to Lawrence’s acclaimed performance in Winter’s Bone, stating that it serves as a compelling reminder of her talent and showcases her willingness to explore smaller projects with emerging directors.

Through Excellent Cadaver, Lawrence also produced Bread and Roses (2023), a documentary directed by Sahra Mani that sheds light on the experiences of Afghan women during Taliban rule.

Eager to delve into comedy, Lawrence accepted the offer from her friend Gene Stupnitsky to star in and produce the sex comedy No Hard Feelings (2023).

In the film, she portrays a young woman facing financial struggles who agrees to date the introverted 19-year-old son of wealthy parents, played by Andrew Barth Feldman, in response to a Craigslist ad.

Reviewers praised Lawrence’s comedic timing and the film received positive feedback overall.

Her performance garnered her another Golden Globe nomination.

Public Image

Lawrence’s off-screen persona was described as “down-to-earth, self-deprecating, unaffected” by the review website IndieWire in 2012.

Adam McKay, the director of Don’t Look Up, praised her as a “strong, funny truth-teller” and admired her ability to unleash her anger.

An IGN writer characterized her as a “sharp”, “funny”, and “quirky” actress who remained grounded despite her success.

Lawrence herself believes that acting is insignificant compared to life-saving professions and does not boast about her accomplishments.

In 2012, Lawrence was hailed as “the most talented young actress in America” by Rolling Stone.

Her co-star Donald Sutherland in The Hunger Games described her as an “exquisite and brilliant actor” and compared her skills to those of Laurence Olivier.

David O. Russell, who directed Lawrence in Silver Linings Playbook, American Hustle, and Joy, commended her effortless acting style.

She has worked in both mainstream and independent films, showcasing her versatility across various genres.

Despite not having formal training in acting or professional theater experience, Lawrence draws inspiration from observing people around her.

She approaches her roles without investing her real emotions and never carries her characters’ pain off set. Instead, she relies on her imagination to bring them to life.

Lawrence firmly believes that she wouldn’t sacrifice her sanity for the sake of a role and prefers to focus on comedic projects if necessary.

Lawrence has become one of the world’s highest-paid actresses. The Daily Telegraph reported in 2014 that she was earning $10 million per film.

In 2013, Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world, Elle labeled her the most powerful woman in the entertainment business, and Forbes ranked her as the second most powerful actress, behind only Angelina Jolie.

In 2014, Forbes listed Lawrence as the second-highest-paid actress in the world with earnings of $34 million, and named her as the most powerful actress, ranking at number 12 on the magazine’s Celebrity 100 list.

She appeared on the list again in 2015 and 2016.

In 2015, Lawrence was named “Entertainer of the Year” by Entertainment Weekly—a title she also won in 2012—and was recognized as the highest-grossing action heroine in Guinness World Records for starring in The Hunger Games series.

In 2015 and 2016, Forbes ranked her as the world’s highest-paid actress, with annual earnings of $52 million and $46 million, respectively.

In the following two years, it ranked her as the world’s third and fourth highest-paid actress, with respective earnings of $24 million and $18 million.

The Hollywood Reporter listed Lawrence among the 100 most powerful people in entertainment from 2016 to 2018.

As of 2019, her films have grossed over $6 billion worldwide.

Lawrence appeared on Victoria’s Secret’s listing of the “Sexiest Up-and-Coming Bombshell” in 2011, People‘s Most Beautiful People in 2011 and 2013, Maxim‘s Hot 100 from 2011 to 2014, and was placed at number one on FHM‘s 100 Sexiest Women list in 2014.

From 2013 to 2015, she was featured on Glamour‘s annual listing of the best dressed women, topping the list in 2014.

During Raf Simons’s tenure at Dior, Lawrence became a celebrity ambassador for the brand, appearing in advertisement campaigns for its fashion and perfumes. She frequently wears Dior to red carpet events such as film premieres and award ceremonies. She wore a custom Dior bridal gown on her wedding day.

Personal Life

During the filming of X-Men: First Class in 2010, Lawrence entered into a relationship with her co-star Nicholas Hoult.

Their romance came to an end around the time they finished filming X-Men: Days of Future Past in 2014.

In September 2016, she started dating filmmaker Darren Aronofsky after meeting him during the filming of Mother!. However, their relationship ended in November 2017.

In 2018, Lawrence began a relationship with Cooke Maroney, who is an art gallery director.

They got engaged in February 2019 and tied the knot that October in Rhode Island.

Currently, as of May 2019, they live in the Lower Manhattan area of New York City and in Beverly Hills, California. In February 2022, Lawrence gave birth to their son, Cy, named after American artist Cy Twombly.

Lawrence was among the victims of the 2014 celebrity nude photo leak, where several private nude pictures of her were hacked and shared online.

She made it clear that the photos were never intended for the public eye, labeling the leak as a “sex crime” and a “sexual violation”.

Lawrence also expressed that those who viewed the images should feel ashamed for “perpetuating a sexual offense”.

She mentioned that the pictures were originally meant for Hoult during their relationship and stated that, unlike other victims of the incident, she had no intention of suing Apple Inc.

Awards and Nomination

Jennifer Lawrence has received multiple awards and nominations throughout her career, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, three Golden Globe Awards, four Critics’ Choice Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, seven MTV Movie Awards, six People’s Choice Awards, and eight Teen Choice Awards.

Filmography

Television

Music videos

In Other Work

Lawrence is an advocate for feminism, emphasizing that it is simply about equality and should not be intimidating to people.

She has been a vocal supporter of body positivity for women. In 2015, she penned an essay for Lenny Letter addressing the gender pay gap in Hollywood, sharing her own experiences of receiving lower pay compared to her male co-stars.

During a 2015 interview with Vogue, she criticized Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis for her stance against same-sex marriage.

Although she was raised a Republican and voted for John McCain in the 2008 presidential election, Lawrence has become critical of the party.

She strongly opposed Donald Trump’s presidency, expressing her belief that his election would have catastrophic consequences.

Lawrence endorsed Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election.

She became a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2011 and has actively supported various charitable organizations, including the World Food Programme, Feeding America, and the Thirst Project.

Alongside her co-stars from The Hunger Games, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth, she collaborated with the United Nations to raise awareness about poverty and hunger.

Lawrence organized a special screening of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire in support of Saint Mary’s Center, a disabilities organization in Louisville, raising over $40,000.

She also worked with Chideo to raise funds for the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games by screening her film Serena.

Additionally, she partnered with Omaze to host a fundraising contest for the games in conjunction with the premiere of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1.

In 2015, Lawrence joined forces with Hutcherson and Hemsworth to create Prank It FWD, an altruistic endeavor aimed at raising funds for the nonprofit organization Do Something.

During the same year, she established the Jennifer Lawrence Foundation, which provides support to charitable causes such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the Special Olympics.

In 2016, she generously donated $2 million to the Kosair Children’s Hospital in Louisville, enabling the establishment of a cardiac intensive care unit named after her foundation.

Additionally, she serves as a board member for RepresentUs, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for anti-corruption legislation in the United States.

In 2018, Lawrence collaborated with 300 women in the entertainment industry to launch the Time’s Up initiative, aimed at safeguarding women against harassment and discrimination, and actively participated in the 2018 Women’s March in Los Angeles.

Furthermore, in 2018, Lawrence voiced her support for maintaining ranked-choice voting in Maine.

Net Worth

Lawrence’s salary for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire was $10 million, and it was doubled for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 and Part 2.

As of 2023, Lawrence’s net worth is $160 million, thanks in part to her success in other films like the X-Men series, Silver Linings Playbook, and American Hustle.