Jennifer Lawrence Reflects on Blunt & Brutal Acting Notes from Director David O. Russell

Jennifer Lawrence has opened up about working with director David O. Russell, saying she never felt disrespected despite his tough and sometimes harsh directing style.

She spoke about her experience on The New York Times’ “The Interview” podcast, reflecting on her roles in Silver Linings Playbook (2012), American Hustle (2013), and Joy (2015), all of which earned her Oscar nominations. Lawrence won Best Actress at just 22 for Silver Linings Playbook.

Russell has a reputation for being intense on set. He once made co-star Amy Adams cry during American Hustle, with Christian Bale stepping in to calm tensions.

However, Lawrence said she learned to handle his direct criticism without taking it personally. “I really felt like with David that was his way of communicating in a non-bull**** way. I never felt like he was degrading or yelling at me,” she said. “If he didn’t like something, he was just like: ‘That was terrible. Looked like s*** Do it better.’ And that was a very helpful conversation. How so? I don’t know. ‘Slower! Not so loud!’ I’m not sensitive. I don’t know how you can be in this industry.”

Lawrence acknowledged that Russell may have been harder on Amy Adams than on her. “Maybe he was harder on [Amy Adams] than he was on me,” she said. “I don’t know. I mean, yes, of course I’m sensitive. I’m really sensitive. I don’t know.”

She also praised Christian Bale for his influence on her craft. Watching him prepare carefully before each take on American Hustle helped her understand the importance of gradually getting into character.

“I was 23 and very sensitive about getting embarrassed in front of the crew,” Lawrence said. “I thought acting was embarrassing. And so I would make a point of not acting until I absolutely had to, at ‘action.’ But then I would see Christian. When the crew started getting ready, the lights started getting ready, and it became clear we were going to start rolling soon, he would slowly start getting ready. I was like… that seems like a good idea and I should do that when I’m more mature and can handle people looking at me and being like, ‘Pshh, she’s acting.’”

Lawrence’s comments highlight how she balanced handling intense feedback with learning from experienced co-stars. Her experience shows that even in high-pressure environments, actors can grow by taking constructive criticism seriously while observing others.

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