'The Hunger Games': Jennifer Lawrence As Katniss Everdeen (PHOTO)

There are few movie roles that offer instantly as massive a fan base as do the lead heroines in big screen adaptations of Young Adult novels. To wit: Emma Watson, "Harry Potter's" Hermoine, is an icon of screen and style, while Kristen Stewart, the embodiment of Bella in "The Twilight Saga," has her every moody move tracked by jealous fans as she makes her way through new big screen epics and dating co-star Robert Pattinson.

Having won the next massive book-to-film role, Katniss Everdeen in Suzanne Collins' "The Hunger Games," Jennifer Lawrence knows what's in store for her. Being ready is another thing.

In an exclusive interview with Entertainment Weekly, Lawrence discussed her sudden rise to fame -- on the back of an entirely different type of film, the indie "Winter's Bone," for which she earned an Oscar nomination -- and her mental preparation to play such a highly sought role (she won the part over fellow Oscar nominee Hailee Steinfeld).

"I knew that as soon as I said yes, my life would change," she told the magazine. "And I walked around an entire day thinking 'It's not too late, I could still go back and do indies, I haven't said yes yet, it's not too late.'"

But in the end, she preserved, showing the strength to match her character's. "I love this story," she said, "and if I had said no, I would regret it every day."

Lawrence will be joined in the movie by a star studded cast, including Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth as her close friends Peeta and Gale in the semi-apocalyptic youth fighting tournament from which the film derives its name, as well as Elizabeth Banks as her guide Effie Trinket, Stanley Tucci as Caesar Flickerman and Woody Harrelson as Haymitch Abernathy.

For more, click over to Entertainment Weekly.

PHOTO:

CORRECTION: In an earlier version of this article, the name of the character Elizabeth Banks plays in "The Hunger Games" was mislabeled. She will play the role of Effie Trinket.

Comments

[witchhuntress]

03:12 PM on 05/23/2011

She looks perfect as Katniss. I can't wait to see her on screen next year!!!!!! ^^

[sabelmouse]

10:11 AM on 05/22/2011

i wonder if they are going to miscast the entire cast, they are doing a great job so far.

[mimi66]

01:11 PM on 05/19/2011

I think she's perfect. I feel like the Winter's Bone character and Katniss are not all that different. Stoic, tough but somehow vulnerable too. I haven't seen True Grit so I can't compare, but maybe they tested each and Jennifer Lawrence killed it.

[patman77]

12:47 PM on 05/19/2011

I got a part in the movie. I start may 26 through june 3rd outside of asheville, NC. what a blast it will be.

[shiny73]

02:30 PM on 05/19/2011

Lucky you! What part did you get?

[plooger]

12:40 PM on 05/19/2011

"But in the end, she preserved, ... "

preserved?

[Nick Rowley]

10:48 PM on 05/19/2011

When it was all over she made some jam. ;)

[whowhatwhywherewhen]

12:28 PM on 05/19/2011

Can't wait.

[bhyman]

10:23 AM on 05/19/2011

So excited for this movie. Bought the books for my teenager and read them all over a holiday weekend. Jennifer Lawrence was a good choice, although I was hoping for Chloe Moretz. I know, she is too young, but she would have been great.

Now show me the photo of Woody Harrelson as Heymitch! That was an inspired casting choice.

[yellowdoggie]

07:48 AM on 05/19/2011

Those books are to YA fiction what Michael Chabon is to adult fiction: sheer brilliance. And this young lady will be perfect as Katniss. Those who are disappointed that she got the role should reserve judgment. I predict a success.

[Pennsylvanianne]

07:37 AM on 05/19/2011

"But in the end, she PRESERVED?" What did Jennifer Lawrence do, make some kind of jam or jelly? Come ON, Huffington Post, it's "persevered"!!

[yellowdoggie]

07:44 AM on 05/19/2011

That was exactly what I thought. Apricot preserves? What?

[kapalabhati]

06:39 AM on 05/19/2011

FLAGGED SPAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bigshotprof]

12:53 AM on 05/19/2011

Katniss doesn't seem like that much of a stretch for me. She seems like a pretty straightforward heroine to me. I am sure she is up to tne job.

[KJLSanDiego]

12:15 AM on 05/19/2011

She's perfect!
I really couldn't see it until now, be she's it!
I knew she had the acting chops, but I thought she looked too old.
They fixed her up just right!
She should be worried, though!
The books are amazing, and playing any key characters are roles of a lifetime!

[KJLSanDiego]

12:19 AM on 05/19/2011

Though, I did imagine Camilla Belle while reading the novels!

[reinzig]

10:22 PM on 05/18/2011

Oh, the wisdom of children. Even my 11 year old said, upon seeing this photo: "There is NO WAY that person looks 16 years old....and what are they going to do for the other two movies? She'll be way too old by then."

She may be pretty and she may make a good magazine cover, but it should have been Hailee Steinfeld.

[KJLSanDiego]

12:15 AM on 05/19/2011

She's too young, though.

[reinzig]

12:22 AM on 05/19/2011

She's 14, and will still be a teen throughout the three-movie span (assuming they make all three). It's closer than starting at 20, and she proved her acting chops in True Grit--she could have handled it.

[masterdub]

05:47 AM on 05/19/2011

...but that's why she would have been perfect! the true horror of the games is that children (18 & under) are sent to battle to the death. using 20-somethings in these roles does not convey that message.

[WakingLife]

04:15 AM on 05/20/2011

I wish it had been Hailee too. She's much closer in age, has the chops, and has more of the ethnically ambiguous look that Katniss was supposed to have.

[listen to the silence]

10:08 PM on 05/18/2011

This young woman is beautiful AND talented.

[LivelyLexie]

09:14 PM on 05/18/2011

She's gorgeous and looks fantastic as a brunette!

[kapalabhati]

06:41 AM on 05/19/2011

I know. Just when I thought she couldn't look more beautiful as she did at the Oscars....

Having difficulty feeling good about self.

[LivelyLexie]

01:49 PM on 05/19/2011

Aww, don't feel bad! Remember, millions of people try to be famous actors or actresses and very few succeed. Most of the reason is because they're freakishly beautiful, and probably only 5% of the population look as good as they do (plus they have an entire team working to keep them gorgeous!)

[Nick Rowley]

10:49 PM on 05/19/2011

Yes didn't recognize her, had to check the name against some other pics.

Also, ahem, thank Pan she's 21.