Jennifer Lawrence Opens Up About Motherhood: Battling Extreme Anxiety and Depression Made Her Feel ‘Like an Alien’

Jennifer Lawrence recently shared her experience with the loneliness of postpartum life. She discussed this while promoting her film, Die, My Love, where she plays a mother dealing with mental health struggles.

In the film, directed by Lynne Ramsay, Lawrence’s character, Grace, is isolated in a rundown house in Montana. Her husband, Jackson, played by Robert Pattinson, leaves for work, leaving her alone with their newborn. This setup adds to the film’s tension as Grace descends into psychosis.

At a press conference before the Cannes Film Festival, Lawrence reflected on the challenges of portraying such a role. “As a mother, it was hard to separate myself from Grace,” she said. “It was heartbreaking.” After becoming a mother herself in 2022 and being pregnant with her second child during filming, she spoke candidly about the extreme anxiety and isolation many new parents feel. “You feel like an alien,” she stated.

Die, My Love is based on a novel by Argentine author Ariana Harwicz and continues Ramsay’s exploration of motherhood’s darker sides, similar to her earlier work, We Need to Talk About Kevin.

Pattinson, who also became a father in 2024, connected with Jackson’s struggles. He noted that navigating a partner’s mental health issues, particularly during postpartum, is challenging. “It’s incredibly difficult when you don’t have the vocabulary to express what you’re feeling,” he explained.

Interestingly, Lawrence believes that motherhood has made her a better actor. She expressed a newfound ability to connect with her emotions, which she feels enhances her performances. “My job is about emotion, and having kids has changed me creatively,” she noted.

Recent research shows that postpartum depression affects about 1 in 7 women in the U.S. This highlights the importance of discussing mental health in relation to motherhood. According to the CDC, symptoms can include extreme sadness, anxiety, and exhaustion, making daily tasks difficult. Many experts emphasize the need for support systems for new parents to help them cope better.

This film sheds light on an important issue and encourages conversations about the emotional complexities of motherhood. By portraying these realities, Lawrence and Ramsay are helping break the stigma around maternal mental health.

For anyone seeking help, resources like Mental Health America and Mind offer support for those struggling with postpartum challenges.

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