J. Law Accepts Your Criticism With Open Arms

Jennifer Lawrence's career is just beginning. At 26 years old, the actor is already an Oscar-winning, international star, and it's difficult to imagine how she could transcend such astronomical success. In a recent interview with Vogue, however, Lawrence revealed that she has major plans for her future, both on and offscreen. In the next few years she'll appear in a multitude of projects, but she'll also continue to stand up for causes she believes in. Lawrence is putting herself at the forefront of social and political conversations, and while she knows this choice is potentially controversial, she isn't afraid. When it comes to speaking out, the star has said that she's over trying to find a "likable" way to make her opinions heard. From the gender pay gap to political corruption, Lawrence wants to use her platform to enact change. She isn't fazed by critics — in fact, she thinks criticism is crucial to the process.

In 2015, emails from the Sony leak revealed that Lawrence was paid less for American Hustle than her male co-stars. The actor wrote a candid, critical essay about this for Lenny Letter, and it started an crucial conversation about the gender pay gap in the film industry. However, Lawrence wanted the letter to address pay inequality in all work environments, not just Hollywood. “My thing with talking about pay equality is not — I use myself as an example, but that’s not what I’m talking about, obviously,” Lawrence told Vogue. “I’m not talking about actresses getting paid millions less than their male costars."

When Lawrence first penned the letter, it wasn't without critics. Some felt that, given the star's wealth, she had no right to complain. In general, many on left and right sides of the spectrum also feel that celebrities have no place in political conversations, but the star disagrees. In her Vogue interview, she stressed the importance of using her platform to speak out. "My opinion is: You can have millions of dollars and a dream career, but if you’re not willing to stand up for what you believe, or if you see wrongdoing and don’t talk about it, then you have nothing,” Lawrence told the publication. For the star, fame comes with social responsibilities. Some people might not approve of celebs stepping out of the realm of acting, but she feels there is value in that dissent.

"It’s the opposite of ‘Shut up and act!’ If you have a voice, use it. I don’t want to go into the grave just being like, ‘Well, I introduced the world to the Hunger Games movies and I bought a house on Coldwater! Goodnight!’" Lawrence said. "For me, it’s worth the criticism. The more criticism I get, the more the conversation is happening."

In recent months, the Mother! star has set her sights on another important cause. According to Vogue, she's a board member of Represent.Us, an organization that fights political corruption on the local, statewide, and national level. "If you’re a Republican, if you’re liberal, it doesn’t matter,” she said in the interview. She stressed the goals of the organization as being “getting money and corruption out of politics” and “freeing our democracy".

Over the next few years, Lawrence will explore new territory, both in film and through her advocacy. Her ability to speak candidly and without filter is one of her most compelling characteristics, and she isn't shying away from difficult topics. Her ability to speak out on important issues without fear is inspirational for fans, especially women, and luckily, it doesn't seem like she intends to stop soon.