Aimee Walker
Jennifer Lawrence has claimed she was the first woman to ever lead an action movie.
Lawrence, 32, is an Academy Award-winning actress who is known for her appearances in films such as Silver Linings Playbook, Don’t Look Up and American Hustle.
However, she became a household name as Katniss Everdeen in the hugely popular franchise The Hunger Games, which is made up of four films.
In the movies, Lawrence plays the main protagonist who is skilled with a bow and arrow, while also being a symbol of rebellion.
The X-Men: First Class star has recently reflected on her success and how the role catapulted her to stardom.
Watch Jennifer Lawrence make the claim in the clip below…
In an interview with Variety, Lawrence spoke with fellow actress Viola Davis and the pair discussed action movies with female leads.
Lawrence recalled: “I remember when I was doing Hunger Games, nobody had ever put a woman in the lead of an action movie because it wouldn’t work – because we were told girls and boys can both identify with a male lead, but boys cannot identify with a female lead.”
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She continued: “And it just makes me so happy every single time I see a movie come out that just blows through every one of those beliefs, and proves that it is just a lie to keep certain people out of the movies.
“To keep certain people in the same positions that they’ve always been in.”
After hearing Lawrence’s claim, many people took to Twitter and pointed out that she isn’t correct, as there have been many female action heroes in films over the years.
Many people listed Sigourney Weaver in the Alien franchise, Linda Hamilton in the Terminator films, Angelina Jolie in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and Uma Thurman in Kill Bill 1 and 2 as examples.
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One Twitter user penned: “Jennifer Lawrence believes that she was the first female lead in an action movie.
“Sigourney Weaver was kicking ass in Alien 11 years before #JLaw was born. Also see Pam Grier, Linda Hamilton, Angelina Jolie, Uma Thurman and so many more for examples where she is 100% wrong.”
Another added: “Someone should tell Cynthia Rothrock who was leading action movies long before Jennifer Lawrence was even born that her career doesn’t count. Jennifer says so.”
However, others took to social media and said that although Lawrence wasn’t entirely correct, she did have a point.
One person commented: “What Jennifer Lawrence said about being the first female action lead was incorrect. But the point she was making was absolutely spot on.”
While another argued: “With the utmost respect to Jennifer Lawrence, these women (and more) have pioneered female representation in action cinema.
“Can we be doing more? Absolutely. A lot more.
“But we have to acknowledge film history and how these actors have paved the way for film heroines today.”
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Lawrence has since spoken out and clarified the comments about female action-led movies.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, the 32-year-old said: “That’s certainly not what I meant to say at all. I know that I am not the only woman who has ever led an action film.”
Lawrence told the outlet that she had meant to say that she was grateful she got the opportunity to be in a female action-led film and that when chatting with Viola Davis, her thoughts ‘came out wrong’.
She added: “I had nerves talking to a living legend.”
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