Hollywood A-Lister Reflects on ‘Sacrificial’ and ‘Rewarding’ Aspects of Motherhood

Published: November 5, 2025

By India McCarty

HUNGER GAMES star Jennifer Lawrence opened up about the “sacrificial” aspects of juggling motherhood and her career.

“Having kids is sacrificial. It’s gratifying and it’s amazing and rewarding, but it’s not not sacrificial,” the actress told the New York Times’ “The Interview” podcast.

Lawrence explained that she had “never had to say no to something before that I really wanted to do,” before having kids, adding, “I could just go do it.”

“I do wrestle,” she admitted. “It feels vain and selfish that I love being a creative person as much as I do. My kids and my family are more important, obviously, but they feel like an equal part of me.”

However, Lawrence made it clear she “would not be complete if I couldn’t make movies. I just wouldn’t.”

“When I had my son, my firstborn, I was like, being an actress is the perfect job for being a hands-on mom! Now I’m realizing: That was COVID,” she explained. “So I’m reckoning with, how much is it OK to love this and not want to give it up?”

She discussed the topic further while appearing at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, calling motherhood “brutal and incredible.”

“[My kids] go into every decision of if I’m working, where I’m working, when I’m working,” Lawrence said. “I didn’t know that I could feel so much and my job has a lot to do with emotion. They’ve opened up the world to me. It’s almost feeling like a blister or something — so sensitive. So they’ve changed my life, obviously, for the best and they’ve changed me creatively.”

Lawrence and her husband, Cooke Maroney, welcomed their first son, Cy, in 2022. The couple added a second son to the family in April but have not shared his name.

“The morning after I gave birth, I felt like my whole life had started over. Like, now is day one of my life,” the actress told Vogue in 2022. “I just stared [at him]. I was just so in love. I also fell in love with all babies everywhere. Newborns are just so amazing. They’re these pink, swollen, fragile little survivors.”

Lawrence recently spoke to E! News about the importance of establishing a network of fellow moms as a first-time parent, sharing, “As a mom, especially when I was a new, first-time mom, my community and having a mom community was so vital.”

“Having a community is so, so important and just being able to check in with other women, like, ‘Is this normal?’” she continued.

While Lawrence still plans to continue being one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, the actress has made it clear her kids come first.

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