One Big Preference Jennifer Lawrence Has When Filming Sex Scenes (And Why It Would Have Been ‘Weirder’ If The Hunger Games Was More Sexual)

Jennifer Lawrence watches Josh Hutcherson and their "Hunger Games Kids" in the final scene of Mockingjay Part 2.
(Image credit: Lionsgate)

Jennifer Lawrence’s approach to nude scenes in her movies has been really refreshing over the last few years. The actress isn’t overly precious about her body, eating grilled cheese between takes on No Hard Feelings, and she even was OK filming lovemaking scenes while she was postpartum after the birth of her second baby. That was on her first day on the set of Die, My Love with Robert Pattinson, too! She’s literally said, ‘I don’t care about nudity’ in interviews and has a healthy relationship with her body as it’s changed over time. Which is why I was surprised to hear the actress does have one big preference when it comes to filming sex scenes.

In a varied interview at 92 NY, the actress opened up about why she really didn’t have a lot of trouble filming sex scenes with Pattinson, despite the fact they did them early on in production. In fact, it seems like it was a whole lot easier doing it before they got to know one another on set, with Lawrence explaining (via People):

It was actually easier that way because Rob and I did not know each other, which is kind of better, you know?

She compared working with Rob to working with the pals she’d already known for a hot minute before things got romantic in The Hunger Games and Peeta and Katniss' two kiddos arrive. Her big preference? It's better if she doesn't know the guy well before they film anything sexy.

Like in Hunger Games, like me and Josh Hutcherson would have to kiss and that's like… Imagine it. You know, it's weirder and so yeah, doing it with a stranger is preferable.

Luckily for her, things in the romantic department stayed pretty PG in the Hunger Games. There was too much death and drama happening to get much more than a few kisses in, then the movies –like the books– cut ahead to the ending in District 12 with Peeta and Katniss with their kids in the future. As Francis Lawrence said a the time, the series was about "comfort and trauma," no lovemaking required.

Lawrence clearly saw Hutcherson as a pal only, which would have made any lovemaking scenes harder, anyway, though it didn't do anything to combat those "secret relationship" rumors at the time.

Meanwhile, Jennifer Lawrence has already gotten really honest about her latest movie, and how the more “embarrassing” scenes in Die, My Love occurred when director Lynne Ramsey had her and the Twilight actor pretending they were tigers like sheer lunatics, a scene she’s likened to “interpretive dancing” before.

Jennifer Lawrence standing in a blue dress with confetti swirling on Die, My Love.

(Image credit: Black Label Media/Mubi)

Yes, this movie sounds a bit wild, yes, critics can’t stop talking about Die, My Love, and yes, I am all in on seeing it now that it’s out on the 2026 movie schedule in limited release, Mubi, and VOD.

Jessica Rawden
Managing Editor

Jessica Rawden is Managing Editor at CinemaBlend. She’s been kicking out news stories since 2007 and joined the full-time staff in 2014. She oversees news content, hiring and training for the site, and her areas of expertise include theme parks, rom-coms, Hallmark (particularly Christmas movie season), reality TV, celebrity interviews and primetime. She loves a good animated movie. Jessica has a Masters in Library Science degree from Indiana University, and used to be found behind a reference desk most definitely not shushing people. She now uses those skills in researching and tracking down information in very different ways. 

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