Jennifer Lawrence: Katniss From 'Hunger Games' Inspired My Wage-Gap Criticism

Jennifer Lawrence in ‘The Hunger Games — Mockingjay, Part 1′ (Lionsgate)

By Ryan Gajewski, The Hollywood Reporter

The odds are ever in Katniss Everdeen’s favor, both in the literary realm and here in our own world.

Jennifer Lawrence was asked during a recent press event whether the character she plays in the Hunger Games film franchise was the inspiration for the actress’ recent real-life essay criticizing Hollywood’s gender-based pay disparity.

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“I don’t see how I couldn’t be inspired by this character,” Lawrence replied, according to Reuters. “I mean, I was so inspired by her when I read the books — it’s the reason I wanted to play her.”

“So I think it would be impossible to go four years with this character and not be inspired by her,” the star continued.

Lawrence, who joined her co-stars at a Hollywood ceremony over the weekend to get their hands in cement, added that it was tough for herself as an actress to not want to play the character as a full-fledged revolutionary from the very beginning of the saga.

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“I wanted her to be a warrior right away — I wanted her to want to be a leader,” she said. “I had to keep my own personal emotions about her situation out of my performance.”

Director Francis Lawrence’s The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2, the final installment in the hit franchise, lands in theaters Nov. 20.