Stars—they’re just like us! Except that, really, they’re not. For the most part, we’re all very aware of the differences between a famous person and ourselves. But there are some celebrities who seemingly work overtime trying to convince us that they’re totally average, grounded, and un-Hollywood. One star that’s particularly adept at the “I’m normal” spin is Jennifer Lawrence. Granted, we’re huge fans of the “Silver Linings Playbook” actress, who admittedly does seem quite normal by Hollywood standards—and she’s got talent to boot.
However, it seems that the 22-year-old—in the span of two years—has given so many self-deprecating sound bites that they’re starting to hinge on condescending. As down-to-earth as she may be, the fact remains that she is a major movie star whose been nominated for Oscars, walks red carpets in custom Dior Haute Couture (she’s the face of the brand’s handbag line—another perk of fame), and rakes in millions of dollars per project. And we’re totally okay with that! It seems she’s the one who feels the need overcompensate a bit about her fame. Need proof? We’ve compiled all her greatest verbal “I’m normal!” hits in one list, so you can decide for yourself. Read on!
The “I eat cheesesteaks before red carpets!” comment: In 2011, a then-unknown Lawrence wowed the world with her raw portrayal of a rural Ozarks teen who skinned squirrels in “Winter’s Bone.” She was nominated for an Oscar, and showed up to the awards in a skin-tight red Calvin Klein gown—and swore to Elle magazine that she’d barely begun digesting a cheesesteak when she walked the red carpet. “Fifteen minutes before, the guy doing my hair goes, ‘If you can get a salad, get a salad,’” Lawrence told Elle. “I said, ‘I’m getting a Philly cheesesteak.’ I’m sure there’s proof on a hotel bill somewhere.”
The “I have uneven boobs!” comment: Lawrence looked svelte and glamorous in a mustard yellow dress on “Jimmy Kimmel” Thursday night and told the host (and the rest of country, apparently) about yet another “flaw”: “I went to the doctor today and got a chest X-ray of my lungs and discovered that my breasts are uneven!” the 22-year-old said. To be fair, she also admitted that she was ”sick and a little drunk” on the show: “Your producer made me do two shots of tequila and a beer. But the beer was my decision,” she admitted, which arguably counts as yet another “I’m just like you” comment.
The “I’m obese in Hollywood!” comment: In a December 2012 interview with Elle, the actress responded to critics who claimed she was too large to play the near-starving Katniss Everdeen in “The Hunger Games” by giving us this gem: “In Hollywood, I’m obese. I’m considered a fat actress. I’m Val Kilmer in that one picture on the beach.” Not only did this comment show she’s totally self-aware and can poke fun at both herself and Hollywood’s standards, but it also implies: “Hey, that Kilmer quip makes me witty!”
In the same interview, Lawrence also stuck in the obligatory “role model” comment: “I don’t want little girls to be like, ‘Oh, I want to look like Katniss, so I’m going to skip dinner’ … I was trying to get my body to look fit and strong — not thin and underfed. I’ll be the only actress who doesn’t have anorexia rumors.” For the record, Lawrence’s waist size is rumored to be a 24.
The “acting is stupid!” comment: Continuing her self deprecation streak in print, Lawrence told the February issue of Vanity Fair that her career is unimportant and, actually, quite dumb. “Not to sound rude, but [acting] is stupid. Everybody’s like, ‘How can you remain with a level head?’ And I’m like, ‘Why would I ever get cocky? I’m not saving anybody’s life. There are doctors who save lives and firemen who run into burning buildings. I’m making movies. It’s stupid.’”
Not sure how the studios responded to that one, but yikes!
The “I’m SO boring!” comment(s): In November, Jennifer appeared on the “Today” show and claimed that despite her fame, her life is SO boring and un-tabloid worthy. “I’m very boring and [the tabloids] know that. All paparazzis leave my house at, like, 5 p.m.because they know I’m not going anywhere.”
That’s not all: To further prove she’s a snooze-fest, Lawrence told January’s Marie Claire: “I don’t like going out that much. I’m kind of an old lady. After it’s 11, I’m like, ‘Don’t these kids ever get tired?’ When I’m out, I think about my couch. Like, ‘It would be awesome to be on it right now. I bet there’s an episode of ‘Dance Moms’ on. Am I missing a new episode of ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians?’ I’m just stressed by the idea of missing them.” Not only is she selling us on the fact that’s she’s the anti-Lohan, but she’s also proving she’s a reality TV dork like the rest of America. How’s that for a one-two “I’m normal!” punch?
The “I Barely Have Talent!” comment: In the October 2012 issue of W, Lawrence decided to tick off stuff she’s not good at. ”I’m such a bad dancer. I don’t have many talents: I’m not a good cook, I can’t clean, and I can’t sew. The only thing I can do well is shoot bow and arrow—which I learned to do for “The Hunger Games” and will probably never come in handy—and act. Imagine me 100 years ago: I would have been pointless.”
In summary, it’s clear that Lawrence goes the extra mile to prove to us that she’s a level-headed girl who’s in on the joke, so to speak. While that’s totally true, if she embraced her fame and enjoyed its perks without sidebar commentary, it wouldn’t make us like her any less.
Why does it have to be that she “goes the extra mile to prove to us that she’s a level-headed girl…”? Why can’t it be that this is just her personality? I find it refreshing that she is real amongst all the fakes in Hollywood. So what if she makes comments about herself, a lot of people make fun of themselves.
This article only proves to nitpick about dumb things.
As someone who has always been able to laugh at myself, I admire that ability in Jennifer. What I don’t understand is the need to pick apart other people. Let her be.
Your writing style is painfully dramatic. How many times are you going to pseudo-paraphrase her? Don’t forget to add the “!” to make it seem even more dramatic! She never said “acting is stupid”. She stated that the idea that people get big heads because they are actors is stupid. She never said “I’m so boring”. She never said “I barely have talent”. She said she doesn’t have many. Completely different things. I could go on and on but you get the point, or at least I hope you do. You should stop putting words in her mouth. Everything you’ve posted is such a stretch. She doesn’t go the extra mile to make use like her; she’s acting like a human being. You’re making stuff up in this article and you’re trying too hard to make her seem like a bad or fake person. You seem to be unable to comprehend how someone can be famous and successful but maintain a down-to-earth/casual/normal style.
“if she embraced her fame and enjoyed its perks without sidebar commentary, it wouldn’t make us like her any less.” << Couldn't be further from the truth.
What a stupid article. I’m guessing this writer had a deadline to meet and couldn’t think of any better ideas. Yes, I’m sure all of these quotes that Lawrence has made over the course of several years from various random interviews are just some part of her master plan to appear normal so people have a favorable opinion of her. Brilliant logic there.
Give us a break. She’s cool, beautiful and refreshing. And quick-witted. We love her just the way she is, self-deprecation and all.
AMERICA’S PRINCESS