Jennifer Lawrence says playing The Hunger Games heroine Katniss Everdeen inspired her to speak up about the gender pay gap in Hollywood.
Last month in an essay for Lena Dunham’s Lenny newsletter, Lawrence opened up about how she was paid less than her male American Hustle co-stars. “When the Sony hack happened and I found out how much less I was being paid than the lucky people with dicks, I didn’t get mad at Sony,” she wrote. “I got mad at myself…I didn’t want to seem ‘difficult’ or ‘spoiled.'”
The day before the world premiere of the franchise’s final installment, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2, Lawrence told reporters in Berlin that her character influenced her essay, Reuters reports.
“I don’t see how I couldn’t be inspired by this character, I mean I was so inspired by her when I read the books, it’s the reason I wanted to play her,” Lawrence said. “So I think it would be impossible to go four years with this character and not be inspired by her.”
More Must-Reads from TIME
- How Donald Trump Won
- The Best Inventions of 2024
- Why Sleep Is the Key to Living Longer
- Robert Zemeckis Just Wants to Move You
- How to Break 8 Toxic Communication Habits
- Nicola Coughlan Bet on Herself—And Won
- Why Vinegar Is So Good for You
- Meet TIME's Newest Class of Next Generation Leaders
Write to Nolan Feeney at nolan.feeney@time.com