Jennifer Lawrence taking year off acting to focus on activism

  • 18/02/2018
Jennifer Lawrence
Lawrence won't be appearing on the big screen for a while. Photo credit: Getty

It's been a big year for Jennifer Lawrence, starring in the 2017 psychological thriller mother! and now on a promotional tour for her latest film Red Sparrow.

That movie doesn't open here until March and it's probably going to be the last thing you see her in for a while.

The Academy Award-winning actress has announced she's taking a year off acting to focus on activism and encouraging young people to become more engaged with politics.

In a new interview with Entertainment Tonight, the 27-year-old actress said, "I'm going to take the next year off. I'm going to be working with this organization as a part of Represent.Us... trying to get young people engaged politically on a local level.

"It doesn't have anything to do with partisan [politics]," Lawrence said of her involvement with the non-profit organisation.

"It's just anti-corruption and stuff trying to pass state by state laws that can help prevent corruption, fix our democracy."

The actress has become known for being politically active. Last month she visited a local high school to discuss corruption in politics.

As well as meeting with students, Lawrence was active in the Women's March last month, and posted on Facebook her support for women's rights, equal pay, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals scheme and the Children's Health Insurance Program.

In December she was honoured with a Women in Entertainment award, where she spoke about her activism.

"It's not easy to speak out. It's not easy to face criticism on a global scale. But the fact is I have been given a platform, and if I don't use it, then I don't deserve it," Lawrence said while accepting the award.

"This last year has been a trying and challenging time in our world and our industry specifically. Every day, we wake up to a myriad of headlines that deeply impact us, from around the globe."

Newshub.