Jennifer Lawrence spoke openly about her personal struggles with postpartum depression at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. The actress shared her experiences while promoting her new film Die My Love, where she plays a mother battling severe mental health issues after childbirth.
Lawrence described postpartum as an “extremely isolating” experience. She said new mothers often feel like outsiders, even when surrounded by people. The Oscar winner connected these feelings to her role in the film, which explores the dark side of motherhood.
“There’s not really anything like postpartum. It’s extremely isolating. You feel like an alien,” Lawrence told reporters at the festival. She explained how anxiety and depression can make mothers feel completely alone, regardless of their surroundings .
The 34-year-old actress filmed Die My Love while five months pregnant with her second child. She said her own experiences helped her understand the emotional turmoil of her character, Grace, who suffers from postpartum psychosis.
“As a mother, it was really hard to separate what I would do as opposed to what she would do. And it was just heartbreaking,” Lawrence said about preparing for the role. The film follows Grace as she spirals into madness while struggling with her new identity as a mother .
Lawrence praised director Lynne Ramsay for creating a raw and honest portrayal of motherhood. She had wanted to work with Ramsay since watching Ratcatcher years ago. The actress called the project deeply personal, especially since she had recently become a mother herself.
“Having children changes everything. It changes your whole life. It’s brutal and incredible,” Lawrence said. She explained how motherhood reshaped her emotionally and creatively, making her more sensitive as an actor .
Robert Pattinson, who plays Lawrence’s on-screen husband in the film, also shared his thoughts on parenthood. The actor became a father last year and said the experience changed his approach to work.
“What Jennifer said, I’m here just to support. Ever since she was born, it’s reinvigorated the way I approach work,” Pattinson said during the press conference. His character struggles to understand his wife’s postpartum depression, adding tension to their marriage .
Lawrence joked that she now recommends parenthood to actors looking to deepen their emotional range. She said her children have opened up new layers of feeling that she didn’t know existed before becoming a mother.
“They’ve changed my life, obviously, for the best and they’ve changed me creatively. I highly recommend having kids if you want to be an actor,” she said with a laugh. The actress shares two sons with her husband, Cooke Maroney .
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The film’s intense scenes required Lawrence to push her limits. She recalled one challenging day where director Lynne Ramsay asked her and Pattinson to film a naked fight scene on their first day of shooting.
“Lynne showed Rob and I a scene from ‘If’ where characters attack each other like tigers. She said, ‘You’ll do it naked, yeah?’ And we’re like, ‘Oh, OK,’” Lawrence revealed. The scene set the tone for the film’s raw and unfiltered approach .
Die My Love premiered at Cannes to strong reviews, with critics praising Lawrence’s fearless performance. The film is based on Ariana Harwicz’s 2017 novel and marks Ramsay’s return to filmmaking after her 2017 hit You Were Never Really Here.
Lawrence’s candid discussion about postpartum struggles resonated with many at the festival. She highlighted how mental health challenges can affect any mother, regardless of fame or success. Her honesty brought attention to an issue often overlooked in Hollywood.
The actress balanced her serious revelations with lighthearted moments, showing her trademark humor. She joked about the chaos of parenting two young children while maintaining a busy career in film.
Credits: Variety
