Jennifer Lawrence’s most controversial photoshoot helped her change her image and become an action heroine

At the initial stage of her Hollywood career, Jennifer Lawrence was often cast as the girl next door, which significantly contributed to her success. However, being trapped in this box also posed a challenge to her in the industry as time went by. Thus, to break away from this image, the actress collaborated with Esquire Magazine for a steamy video and photo shoot. This bold move ultimately opened doors for her involvement in the X-Men universe.

Jennifer Lawrence in No Hard Feelings

Jennifer Lawrence’s Steamy Esquire Magazine Shoot Stirred Controversy

Jennifer Lawrence took the world by storm when she partnered with Esquire Magazine to shatter her girl-next-door image and showcase a bolder side that people had never seen before. She understood that to maintain public interest and make headlines, she had to do the shoot and spice up her career. She revealed to The Guardian,

Jennifer Lawrence in The Hunger Games franchise
“There are two sides of this job,–There’s the artistic side, which is acting in the movie. But there’s also the business side. And I understood that the shoot was a good business decision. I had many people that I completely trust – agents, publicists – and they said it was a good idea. And I agreed. I understood why it had to happen. I’m sure I’ve been criticised for doing it but you know what? I don’t care.”
The actress faced tremendous criticism for shedding her previous image all so swiftly. However, as she put it, she didn’t care about the negativity. Despite the criticism and harsh comments, the shoot not only helped propel her towards an epic career but also liberated her from any kind of stereotype she was put into. Having said that, this photoshoot also ultimately played an important role in helping me get into the X-Men universe.

How Did Jennifer Lawrence Get Her X-Men Role?

To be honest, Jennifer Lawrence was someone the franchise desperately needed to keep the intrigue alive. Just after receiving her Oscar the previous year and following the impactful photo shoot, she positioned herself significantly to secure her place in the wild ride of the franchise.

As quoted by Yahoo, she once revealed in an interview,

“A lot of people said, “Oh, now we have a great actress come along and she’s showing her boobs”. But that’s exactly what I had to do so I could keep working. Honestly, that photo shoot is what helped me get ‘X-Men [First Class]’.” 

Jennifer Lawrence as Mystique in X-Men: Days of Future Past

Following her introduction into the franchise, Mystique played an important role in all subsequent movies. She became a central figure, crucial in halting events in Days of Future Past, and eventually met an impactful end to her arc in Dark Phoenix, marking her as the most significant death in the storyline.

X-Men: First Class is currently available on Starz to stream.