Jennifer Lawrence Left Her Home When She Was Just 14: Here’s What She Did Next
- Jennifer Lawrence left home at the age of 14 to pursue acting.
- The actress won the Academy Award for Best Actress at just 22.
- She soon became an A-list star, starring in major franchises.
Jennifer Lawrence is one of the biggest Hollywood actresses around today. But at just 14, she left school and her hometown to chase her dreams. Imagine a teen packing up and heading to Tinseltown, ready to make it big!
It wasn’t all smooth sailing, though. Jen had to convince her parents to support her acting dreams and deal with self-doubt along the way. So, how did this young girl go from local theater to A-list fame? Let’s dive into her journey!
Jennifer Lawrence Left Home at 14 to Pursue Dreams
Growing up in Louisville, Kentucky, Jennifer Lawrence was the youngest of three kids. With two older brothers, she got the classic blend of protection and sibling teasing. She described her childhood as “strange.” Typical Jen—a little too honest!
In high school, she was busy with cheerleading, field hockey, and basketball. But everything changed during a family trip to New York City.
A talent scout spotted her, and suddenly, it was audition time! While her mom wasn’t too excited about her acting ambitions, Lawrence was determined. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the actress said:
I left home when I was 14. My relationship with home has always been complicated. I dropped out of middle school. I don’t technically have a GED or a diploma. I am self-educated.
She signed with a talent agency and started auditioning. Spoiler alert: JLaw dropped out of school and never looked back. It was a bold move, but she was ready to take on Hollywood!
Does Jennifer Lawrence Regret Her Decision?
Jennifer Lawrence doesn’t regret her decision at all. From a young age, she was focused on carving out her own path and pursuing what she truly wanted to do. As she said in an interview with CBS News:
No. I really don’t. I wanted to forge my own path. I found what I wanted to do and I didn’t want anything getting in the way of it.
She was so determined to make that happen that even things like friendships didn’t matter as much to her for a long time.
Jennifer Lawrence’s Acting Journey
Jennifer Lawrence started her career on TV, snagging guest spots on shows like Monk and Cold Case. She then landed a regular role as Bill Engvall’s daughter on The Bill Engvall Show. After the show was canceled, she quickly made her move to film.
Her debut film was Garden Party, but it was her lead role in the indie flick Winter’s Bone in 2010 that truly caught everyone’s attention. Soon, Lawrence became a household name, starring in huge franchises like The Hunger Games as Katniss Everdeen and as Mystique in the X-Men series.
Some of her best movies include Like Crazy, The Beaver, No Hard Feelings, Don’t Look Up, Causeway, Winter’s Bone, and American Hustle. With such an impressive lineup, it’s clear she’s one of Hollywood’s biggest stars!
Jennifer Lawrence’s Big Earnings from Her Films
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Lawrence built a net worth estimated at around $160 million. Her salary for The Hunger Games franchise skyrocketed from $500,000 for the first movie to a massive $40 million for the last one.
Starting at $3,000 a week for Winter’s Bone, she hit $500,000 for the first Hunger Games in 2012. After the film’s success, her pay jumped to $10 million for the second movie and between $30-40 million for the fourth, thanks to bonuses.
She earned $20 million for Passengers in 2016, out-earning co-star Chris Pratt by $8 million, and took home $15 million for Red Sparrow in 2018. Now, she typically commands $15 million per film, with bonuses pushing that even higher.
Between August 2017 and August 2018, the star made $20 million, ranking as one of the top five highest-paid actresses. For Don’t Look Up in 2021, she earned $25 million, just $5 million less than Leonardo DiCaprio, but she got top billing.
