Jennifer Lawrence Opens Up About How Watching the Kardashians Helped Her Prepare for the Darkest Role of Her Career

The Kardashians: Love them or loathe them, they’ve undeniably shaped modern pop culture in ways few other families have. Ever since Keeping Up With the Kardashians first aired in 2007, the family has become a global phenomenon. While some fans have tuned in for the drama, others have enjoyed the escapism their reality TV show provides. For many, the Kardashians represent the ultimate in mindless entertainment—perfect for unwinding after a long day or distracting from life’s challenges.

Interestingly, Jennifer Lawrence, one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, is among the many who have found comfort in the Kardashians’ world. Known for her relatable persona, Lawrence’s candid nature extends to her love for the famous family, and she’s openly declared her fandom. But it was during one of her most challenging roles that the Kardashians helped her navigate her darkest self.

Mother!: The Darkest Role of Lawrence’s Career

In 2017, Jennifer Lawrence took on the lead role in Mother!, a psychological horror film directed by Darren Aronofsky. Known for his intense, thought-provoking films such as Requiem for a Dream and Black Swan, Aronofsky pushed Lawrence into new emotional territory with Mother!. The film centers on Lawrence’s character, simply named “Mother,” who embodies Mother Earth herself, caught in a horrifying scenario as her home—and relationship with her poet husband (played by Javier Bardem)—is threatened by increasingly bizarre and violent events.

Unlike the more traditional roles she had played before, Mother! required Lawrence to delve into the deepest, most disturbing psychological realms. The film’s themes are dark, featuring religious allusions and a potent exploration of destruction and sacrifice. It was, in many ways, a departure from Lawrence’s more mainstream roles, like her portrayal of Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games series.

However, the intensity of the role came at a personal cost. Lawrence described the experience of filming Mother! as emotionally taxing, especially when preparing for the most harrowing scenes. “I had to do this one scene, and I hadn’t gone that dark before, I had never done something that horrifying,” she told Jimmy Fallon in a 2017 interview. “I started getting scared a couple of days before, so I was like, I need a tent to keep away from all the extras because I didn’t know what I would do.”

Finding Comfort in Keeping Up With the Kardashians

In order to cope with the emotional and psychological toll of the film, Lawrence turned to an unexpected source of comfort: Keeping Up With the Kardashians. In between the intense takes and soul-searching scenes, Lawrence asked the crew to set up a tent on set where she could retreat and decompress. Inside this tent, episodes of the Kardashians’ reality show played on a computer, offering her a reprieve from the dark atmosphere of the film.

Lawrence explained that the tent was more than just a place to escape—it was a sanctuary where she could find relief. The tent contained not only the episodes of the show but also notes from the Kardashians themselves, which she had written. While she has kept the contents of these notes private, it’s clear that the sheer simplicity and mindless entertainment of the Keeping Up With the Kardashians episodes allowed Lawrence to center herself and regain a sense of lightness amidst the emotional chaos of Mother!.

The Power of Escapism

In the midst of filming a movie about destruction, chaos, and intense psychological pressure, Lawrence’s solution was remarkably human: she needed a mental break. And what better way to disconnect from the darkness of her role than to immerse herself in the familiar, often ridiculous world of the Kardashians?

The paradox of using a reality show—one known for its superficiality and drama—to find personal solace highlights a crucial aspect of human nature: the need for escapism. Sometimes, a bit of mindless entertainment is exactly what we need to recalibrate and recover from emotional exhaustion. And for Lawrence, that solace came from watching a family whose lives seemed far removed from the intensity of her role in Mother!.

A Tribute to the Power of Unwinding

Lawrence’s use of the Kardashians as a tool for self-care during the grueling filming process of Mother! is a reminder that even the most successful, well-known figures need moments of relief and distraction. For her, the Kardashians offered the perfect brand of mindless entertainment—comforting, easy to watch, and completely unrelated to the intensity of her work.

In a world that often demands perfection and constant output, it’s important to find ways to disconnect and recharge. And for Jennifer Lawrence, the Kardashians provided the perfect escape—a reminder that even stars need their own version of lighthearted television to weather the storm.