Jennifer Lawrence has built a career on playing complicated women teetering on the edge, whether launching revolutions in “The Hunger Games,” unraveling in messy David O. Russell dramas, or descending into postpartum psychosis in Lynne Ramsay’s “Die My Love.” Here are seven performances that showcase Lawrence’s extraordinary range and her commitment to portraying women who refuse to play it safe.
7. “Joy” (2015)
David O. Russell’s “Joy” received mixed reviews upon its 2015 release, but the consensus on Lawrence’s performance was clear: This actor can anchor even the most uneven projects. Her turn as Joy Mangano—the creator of the self-wringing mop—started a trend for Lawrence of playing complicated mothers fighting for their lives while surrounded by people who don’t believe in them. Though the biographical aspect of “Joy” does very little to enrich its storytelling (it is only very loosely inspired by the real inventor), the depth Lawrence brings to the character earned her a fourth Oscar nomination, making her, at the time, the youngest ever to reach that milestone.
6. “The Hunger Games” franchise (2012–2015)
Whether “The Hunger Games” is your kind of story or not, it’s impossible to deny the range required to take on the role of Katniss Everdeen. The franchise’s protagonist must possess the innate charisma of a revolutionary leader while also digging deep for the complex physicality and gritty emotion that the series’ barbaric title games call for. Lawrence deftly depicts her character’s learned fierceness as the narrative progresses, as well as fear, deceit, cunning, and an astounding amount of empathy. Katniss was a Herculean role to take on at 21, especially right after Lawrence played Mystique in the “X-Men” franchise only one year prior. (And while her stint as the Marvel antagonist as a whole was compelling, few of those films really gave her a chance to shine.) Lawrence’s ability to juggle the demands of newfound superstardom and lead the juggernaut of “The Hunger Games” machine with poise and presence will never fail to impress us.
5. “Die My Love” (2025)
From the mind of the inimitable Lynne Ramsay, the struggling young mother Grace in “Die My Love” will undoubtedly be one of the most divisive characters of Lawrence’s career. The actor is tasked with making Grace’s self-destructive, shall we say, tendencies feel believable and (even harder) relatable. It’s no small task, given that the character is a new parent whose isolation and paranoia devolve into full-fledged psychosis throughout the course of the film. But Lawrence truly excels at getting the audience to see the emotional depth behind her character’s devastating, difficult-to-understand decisions.
4. “American Hustle” (2013)
Any list of Lawrence’s best performances would feel incomplete without the deliciously manipulative Rosalyn Rosenfeld in Russell’s “American Hustle.” While many of her characters could be reductively summed up with the Marie Kondo “I love mess” meme, Rosalyn might just take the cake. She’s a woman hellbent on protecting what’s hers (and, yeah, maybe sticking it to her two-timing husband). Though she may not be as central to the plot as Christian Bale’s Irving or Amy Adams’ Sydney, Lawrence’s Rosalyn will do absolutely anything within her power to protect her family’s happiness. Her unpredictability makes her absolutely critical to the film’s edge-of-your-seat suspense.
3. “Mother!” (2017)
The best option on this list if you’re looking for a chaotic, anxiety-churning fever dream, the intensity of Lawrence’s turn in “Mother!” is unrivaled. Darren Aronofsky’s depiction of a descent into madness is not to be missed due to potent performances by Lawrence as Mother and Javier Bardem as her husband, an author consumed by his work. Things come unglued as fans of the author’s book begin to take over the house in a claustrophobic nightmare, causing Mother to descend into madness. Lawrence’s performance helps ground the overall delirium of the film, inspiring the audience’s empathy as she fights to endure a never-ending cycle of violence and destruction.
2. “Winter’s Bone” (2010)
Before there was a pop culture figure like Katniss Everdeen, there was Ree Dolly, Lawrence’s breakout role. Adapted from Daniel Woodrell’s 2006 novel, Debra Granik’s haunting survival drama centers on Ree, a 17-year-old girl fighting to keep her siblings and ailing mother alive and avoid losing the family home
after her meth-cooker father goes missing. While “Winter’s Bone” offers a glimpse into Lawrence’s future as the foremost portrayer of mothers with depth, it’s her youth here that truly defines the performance. All of the people who should be taking care of this girl have either chosen not to or found themselves unfit to do so, so she does it on her own. Lawrence’s stalwart performance expertly juxtaposes her character’s gritty perseverance with her innate compassion and love for her family. At just 20 years old, she became the second-youngest best actress Oscar nominee.
1. “Silver Linings Playbook” (2012)
Lawrence’s talent at tackling messy, emotionally complicated characters is in its ultimate form as the grief-stricken widow Tiffany in Russell’s “Silver Linings Playbook.” It’s particularly impressive, considering the timing: The film hit theaters the same year as the first “Hunger Games” installment, announcing the arrival of a true multifaceted movie star. The actor navigates her character’s complex emotional terrain, from the anguish of losing a loved one to the virulence of self-loathing. Although Tiffany deceives Bradley Cooper’s lovesick, loveable Pat, a highly nuanced performance makes her a sympathetic character—and would soon make Lawrence the second-youngest best actress Academy Award winner in history at age 22.