From winning the Oscar for Silver Linings Playbook, and achieving global fame for her appearance in The Hunger Games franchise, Jennifer Lawrence has created an envious career for herself. But while the actress is considered one of the most cheerful and bankable stars in the entertainment industry, Lawrence once unveiled the dark side of Hollywood.
Being candid about her traumatizing experience from her pre-fame period, Jennifer Lawrence shed light upon the covert casting practices in the film industry. Forced to perform in a “nude line-up”, Lawrence recalled a particularly “degrading” audition, that left her exploited before becoming a household name.
Jennifer Lawrence Recalled an Outrageous Naked Audition
Jennifer Lawrence might have acquired a prominent position in the entertainment industry following her appearances in acclaimed movies, but there was a time when even the Oscar winner struggled to find roles. Hopping from auditions to landing lesser-known projects, Lawrence had witnessed some hardships during her initial years.
That’s when Jennifer Lawrence had a few of the most disturbing incidents of her life. While the actress is now shielded from the vicious exploitations of Hollywood, she threw light upon her experience from early on, when she was yet to be an A-lister. Delving into her past at Elle’s Women in Hollywood event in 2017 via ET, Lawrence opened up about the degrading casting practices in Hollywood.
“[I was] told by producers of a film to lose 15 pounds in two weeks. During this time, a female producer had me do a nude line-up with about five women who were much, much, thinner than me. We all stood side by side with only tape on covering our privates. After that degrading and humiliating line-up, the female producer told me I should use the naked photos of myself as inspiration for my diet.”
Revealing how she was forced to perform this audition while it was being photographed, Jennifer Lawrence mentioned an overwhelming feeling of being “trapped” after the incident. Later on, the actress noted how she went to stand up for herself, but was left sick to her stomach after a producer made an inappropriate comment on how he thought she was “perfectly f*ckable”.
Lawrence Sheds Light Upon Hollywood’s Exploitations
After Jennifer Lawrence opened up about the demeaning casting practices in the entertainment industry, she also addressed the impossible beauty standards. Discussing how one girl present during the above-mentioned audition was later fired as she was unable to lose weight fast enough, Lawrence mentioned how producers preyed upon the vulnerable.
Taking advantage of the perilous position of the struggling actors in Hollywood, Jennifer Lawrence noted that producers would put them through such malicious exploitations. Following her interview, it was revealed as per Far Out Magazine, that only 2% of actors eventually make it and earn a living solely from this profession. Thus Lawrence became a whistleblower against this degrading practice as she attempted to safeguard others against this atrocity.
“I let myself be treated a certain way because I felt I had to for my career. I’m still learning that I don’t have to smile when a man makes me uncomfortable. Every human being should have the power to be treated with respect because they’re human.” Lawrence started via ET.
But it’s not just Jennifer Lawrence who had to go through this, for even Skins and Maze Runner star Kaya Scodelario opened up about “naked auditions” and revealed losing out on a major role after refusing to strip for a leading director. While Lawrence spoke out against the impossible beauty standards of Hollywood, Scodelario’s comments revealed another dark side of the industry where people get s*xually exploited.
Although over the years several actors have spoken out against the unethical practices of Hollywood and tried to bring a change, it seems things barely improved, because the vulnerable are still prone to exploitation.
