Jennifer Lawrence Discusses Postpartum Challenges at Cannes Press Conference

CANNES, France — Actress Jennifer Lawrence and director Lynne Ramsay spoke about the intense themes of postpartum challenges in their new film, “Die, My Love,” during a press conference at the Cannes Film Festival on Sunday.

The film, based on Ariana Harwicz‘s 2017 novel, marks Ramsay’s first feature since her acclaimed 2017 film, “You Were Never Really Here.” Lawrence portrays Grace, a woman struggling with anxiety and depression after childbirth in Montana.

“There’s not really anything like postpartum. It’s extremely isolating,” Lawrence said. “She doesn’t have a community. She doesn’t have her people, but the truth is, extreme anxiety and extreme depression are isolating no matter where you are. You feel like an alien.” Her performance was described as both all-consuming and risky.

Lawrence, who recently welcomed her second child, reflected on the emotional toll of her character. “As a mother, it was really hard to separate what I would do as opposed to what she would do,” she explained. “It was just heartbreaking when I first read the book.”

Co-starring Robert Pattinson as her boyfriend, Jackson, the film explores Grace’s downward spiral amid feelings of identity loss. “Who am I as a mother? Who am I as a wife?” Lawrence articulated the character’s struggles. “She’s plagued with this feeling that she’s disappearing.”

Pattinson shared his experience on set, noting that the film required an unusual creative environment. “I wouldn’t describe it as hard or easy. It is just quite an unusual atmosphere,” he said. “It makes you feel very alive.”

Lawrence recounted the challenging filming of an intimate scene, revealing Ramsay’s unique direction. “The day before our first day, Lynne showed Rob and me a scene from ‘If.’ It was these actors attacking each other like tigers, and she asked, ‘Can you do it naked, yeah?'”

The festival continues until May 24, showcasing a lineup of major Hollywood premieres.