Jennifer Lawrence Thought She’d Always Be Friends with Paul Rudd—Then Everything Changed

Jennifer Lawrence’s rise to stardom wasn’t instantaneous, but rather a gradual climb fueled by standout performances and a string of successful projects. Despite her early acclaim for Winter’s Bone—a gritty, Southern Gothic drama that earned her an Oscar nomination—she didn’t quite become a household name right away. The film’s modest box office success and the lack of mainstream recognition didn’t deter Lawrence, but the moment she realized she had truly made it is a reflection of her down-to-earth personality and unassuming nature.

Lawrence herself pinpointed a specific moment when she realized she was on the path to becoming a Hollywood mainstay. In a recent interview with Time, she recalled the words of Paul Rudd, an actor she greatly admires. “When Paul Rudd told me that he thought we would always be friends,” Lawrence said, adding, “When people look back and wonder what happened when she changed when it all got destroyed, it will be right here at this moment because I have always looked at Paul Rudd and thought we would be friends.”

Though the details of how Lawrence and Rudd met are unclear, her realization speaks volumes about how relationships in Hollywood can shape an actor’s sense of self. For Lawrence, hearing Rudd—who was already an established, beloved actor—express confidence in their friendship and connection made her see herself not as a rising star, but as someone on equal footing with those she had admired for years. It was in this moment that she began to recognize her own place in the industry.

Known for her down-to-earth nature and candid personality, Lawrence has long been a relatable figure in Hollywood. She’s built a reputation for keeping her head on straight, despite the intense media scrutiny that comes with fame. From her early role in Winter’s Bone, where she portrayed Ree, a tough teenage girl searching for her father in the rural Ozarks, to blockbuster franchises like The Hunger Games and X-Men, Lawrence has always brought authenticity and depth to her roles, earning her the respect of her peers and critics alike.

Her role as Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games franchise, which was largely influenced by her mother’s encouragement, solidified her place as one of Hollywood’s top stars. The commercial success of these films paired with her Oscar win for Silver Linings Playbook cemented her status as an A-list actress. And yet, even as she achieved widespread fame, Lawrence remained remarkably grounded.

Today, Jennifer Lawrence is one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood, with countless memorable late-night talk show appearances and a seemingly unending list of accolades. But for her, it was Paul Rudd’s acknowledgment of their lasting friendship that made her realize the impact she had made on the industry.

As fate would have it, Rudd is now starring in a project titled Friendship, opposite the hilariously menacing Tim Robinson, bringing the full circle nature of their bond to life on screen. Lawrence’s reflection on her own career reminds us that sometimes it’s the simplest moments of connection, like an unexpected friendship, that help us recognize our worth.

Now, whenever she wants, Lawrence can hop on a talk show like Jimmy Kimmel with the same comfort she’d feel catching up with an old friend—proof that, for all her fame and success, she’s still very much the same down-to-earth woman she was before the world knew her name.