Jennifer Lawrence says David O. Russell’s blunt directing style ‘never felt degrading’ after co-star Amy Adams claimed he made her cry

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Following Amy Adams’ revelation that director David O. Russell once made her cry, Jennifer Lawrence has spoken about her own experiences working with him on ‘American Hustle’.

During a recent interview on The New York Times’ podcast, The Interview, 35-year-old Lawrence discussed 67-year-old Russell’s often debated approach to directing, noting that her own experience differed from that of 51-year-old Adams.

A fellow actor had previously stated that the director made her cry while filming the Oscar-nominated movie. She also noted that Lawrence didn’t seem bothered by his actions, describing her as if nothing stuck to her – like ‘Teflon’.

Jennifer Lawrence, 23 at the time of filming in 2013, said David O. Russell’s directing approach didn’t bother her, and she described herself as someone who doesn’t get easily upset.

However, she acknowledged that perhaps Russell was ‘harder on [Amy] than he was on me.’

She described David’s behavior on set as a straightforward way of communicating. She explained that she never felt he was being disrespectful or shouting at her.

She explained that when he disliked something, his feedback was blunt – he’d simply say it was awful and demand improvement. Despite the harshness, she considered these interactions surprisingly constructive.

Lawrence also stated she doesn’t consider herself sensitive, explaining that it’s hard to be in her line of work and maintain that sensitivity.

‘I mean, these young girls are hopefully gonna grow up in a different time.’

After being questioned again about Adams’ background, Lawrence walked back her previous statement about a lack of sensitivity.

‘Maybe he was harder on her than he was on me. I don’t know,’ she said. 

I am a very sensitive person, generally speaking. But that doesn’t extend to my work as an actor. I don’t feel competitive in that area at all.

Lawrence also praised Russell for helping her learn how to work with different directors.

I learned to be flexible on set thanks to David O. Russell. He showed me that it doesn’t really matter how a director likes to work.

Russell’s work with Lawrence led to three Academy Award nominations, and she won the Best Actress Oscar for her performance in the 2012 film Silver Linings Playbook.

They also collaborated on American Hustle and 2015’s Joy. 

Adams received Oscar nods for her work with Russell on The Fighter (2010) and American Hustle.

In a 2016 interview with British GQ, Amy Adams revealed she frequently cried while filming American Hustle, describing the experience as challenging.

‘I was really just devastated on set. I mean, not every day, but most,’ she said.

She described her co-star, Jennifer, as being unaffected by negativity – nothing sticks to her. In contrast, she admits she’s more sensitive, but also strongly dislikes seeing anyone mistreated, finding it unacceptable.

She explained that her personal life is more important to her than her career. She learned to keep her work and home life separate, realizing she didn’t want to bring stressful experiences home to her daughter.

In 2022, 51-year-old actor Christian Bale revealed he often stepped in to help resolve disagreements between Amy Adams and the director while filming American Hustle.

‘You’re dealing with two such incredible talents there.’

When you’re working with exceptionally talented and creative people like Amy and David, some disagreements or difficulties are inevitable. It’s rare to fully realize a vision – our imaginations often run wild – but if you even get close, that’s something special. They are truly phenomenal, despite any challenges.

He also pointed out that the characters themselves were a key factor. They weren’t the type to avoid a challenge, he explained.

American Hustle received ten nominations at the 2014 Academy Awards, with Jennifer Lawrence, Christian Bale, and Amy Adams all being recognized for their performances.

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2025-11-05 04:05