Maya Hawke Says Jennifer Lawrence’s Hunger Games Role Inspired Her Acting Career
The Stranger Things star reflects on how Jennifer Lawrence’s performance shaped her passion for acting ahead of her role in the upcoming Hunger Games prequel.
Maya Hawke has revealed that Jennifer Lawrence’s performance in The Hunger Games was one of the biggest inspirations behind her decision to pursue acting.
The 28-year-old actress, best known for playing Robin Buckley in Netflix’s Stranger Things, shared that watching Lawrence portray Katniss Everdeen had a lasting impact on her career ambitions.
Hawke explained that delivering a strong performance in a major action franchise is challenging because large productions often involve many elements that can overshadow an actor’s work. However, she praised Lawrence for bringing depth and individuality to the role.
According to Hawke, Lawrence created a memorable character who felt authentic and emotionally powerful despite being part of a massive blockbuster series.
Years after being inspired by the franchise, Hawke is now becoming part of the same universe. She will play a younger version of Wiress in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, the upcoming prequel based on Suzanne Collins’ popular novels.
The film will serve as the second prequel in the franchise following The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. It is scheduled to release in cinemas on November 20.
Although Hawke described her role as a smaller part of the film, she said the opportunity holds special meaning because she can now experience the franchise from both an actor’s and a fan’s perspective.
She expressed excitement about seeing the final movie and being part of a story that inspired her own journey into acting.
Hawke’s upcoming role represents a unique career milestone, turning a childhood inspiration into a real opportunity within the same iconic film universe.