Jennifer Lawrence recently told The New York Times’ podcast The Interview that she never felt degraded by director David O. Russell, who has often been criticized for his aggressive and controversial directorial style. Lawrence became Russell’s muse as the star of 2012’s “Unique Playbook,” 2013’s “American Hustle” and 2015’s “Joy,” all three of which earned her Oscar nominations. She won the Best Actress award at the age of 22 for “The World’s One Playbook”.
Russell infamously made Amy Adams cry on the set of American Hustle, and co-star Christian Bale had to act as a mediator to defuse the tension, but Lawrence told The Interview podcast that she never let Russell’s insults take to heart.
“With David, I really felt like that was his way of communicating in a no-bullshit way. I never felt like he was putting me down or yelling at me,” Lawrence said of Russell’s on-set behavior. “If I didn’t like something, I was like, ‘That was terrible. That was crap. Make it better.'” And that was a very useful conversation. how? I don’t understand. ‘Slower! It’s not so loud!’ I’m not sensitive. I don’t know how you can be in this industry.”
“Maybe he was harder on (Amy Adams) than he was on me,” Lawrence added. “I don’t know. I mean, yes, of course I’m sensitive. I’m really sensitive. I don’t know.”
Adams told GQ in 2016 that Russell made her cry on set, saying, “Jennifer[Lawrence]won’t accept anything. She’s Teflon-coated. And I’m not Teflon-coated. I don’t like watching that. It’s not okay. Life is more important to me than movies. It really taught me how to differentiate between work and family, because I didn’t think I could take this experience home with me. To my daughter. ”
“I was absolutely devastated on set,” Adams added about working with Russell. “I mean, not every day, but most of the time.”
Christian Bale admitted to GQ that he “mediated” a tense situation between Russell and Adams on the set of American Hustle in 2022, adding, “You’re dealing with two amazing talents there… Amy, David’s crazy creations. You’re going to be upset when you’re working with people of that caliber. But you have to remember, it was also the nature of the characters. Those characters weren’t supporting people, right?
“Christian Bale has changed me so much,” Lawrence told The Times on the set of “American Hustle,” watching how Bale meticulously transformed himself into the role as filming approached each day.
“I was 23 years old and very sensitive about embarrassing myself in front of the crew,” Lawrence said. “I thought acting was embarrassing, so in ‘action’ I decided not to act until I absolutely had to.”But then I met Christian. He slowly started getting ready as the crew started getting ready and the lights started getting ready and it became clear that we were going to be leaving soon. I thought…I think that’s a good idea and I should do it when I’m more mature and able to deal with people looking at me and thinking, ‘Hmm, she’s acting.’ ”
Visit the New York Times website to hear Lawrence’s full discussion on “The Interview.”
