The One Actor Who Intimidated Jennifer Lawrence: “Doing Scenes with Him Is So Powerful”

Jennifer Lawrence’s rise to Hollywood stardom in the early 2010s was nothing short of meteoric. From her breakout role in Winter’s Bone to blockbuster hits like X-Men: First Class and The Hunger Games, Lawrence quickly proved she was a versatile and formidable talent. An Academy Award winner for Silver Linings Playbook at a young age, she has since taken on a wide array of challenging roles, working alongside some of the most respected actors in the industry.

Among her impressive roster of co-stars—from Robert De Niro and Bradley Cooper to Christian Bale and Michelle Pfeiffer—there is one actor who left her particularly intimidated: Jeremy Irons.

Lawrence worked with Irons in the 2018 spy thriller Red Sparrow, directed by Francis Lawrence. The film, which sparked controversy for its explicit sexual content and themes of female objectification, starred Lawrence as a Russian spy trained in “sexpionage.” While critics were divided on the movie’s message, the performances, especially Lawrence’s, received praise.

Despite her success, Lawrence candidly admitted in an interview with Female.com that she was “so intimidated” by Jeremy Irons. “I mean, it’s Jeremy Irons!” she said, reflecting on his extensive and acclaimed career. Irons’ body of work spans iconic films like The Lion King, The French Lieutenant’s Woman, Dead Ringers, Brideshead Revisited, Lolita, and Inland Empire, as well as a distinguished theatre career. His reputation as one of the finest actors of his generation made working alongside him a powerful experience.

Lawrence explained, “He’s actually the nicest person, and so much fun to work with but doing scenes with him is so powerful. Even when I watch them back now I can feel how I felt when I was doing them with him. He just completely transforms.”

Though Red Sparrow itself wasn’t a critical or commercial success, overshadowed by its difficult subject matter and graphic scenes, Lawrence was grateful for the opportunity to share the screen with such a revered actor. The film also featured other notable talents like Charlotte Rampling and Joel Edgerton, but it ultimately failed to resonate with audiences.

For Jennifer Lawrence, however, the experience remains a testament to the impact great actors can have, and to the unique thrill—and challenge—of working alongside true legends like Jeremy Irons.