Jennifer Lawrence Brushed Off Director's Tough Approach on American Hustle Set

In a recent interview, actress Jennifer Lawrence, now 35, discussed her experience working with director David O. Russell on the 2013 film American Hustle. Lawrence revealed that she did not find Russell's direct communication style to be an issue, unlike her co-star Amy Adams.

According to Lawrence, Russell would bluntly tell her if he disliked something, saying "That was terrible. Looked like s---. Do it better." However, Lawrence saw this as a helpful way for the director to provide feedback, stating "I really felt like with David that was his way of communicating in a non-bulls--- way. I never felt like he was degrading or yelling at me."

In contrast, Adams, who was 51 at the time, found Russell's behavior upsetting, often ending up in tears on set. The actress told British GQ in 2016 that she was "really just devastated" during filming, though she acknowledged that Lawrence seemed unaffected, describing her as "Teflon."

Actor Christian Bale, who also worked with Russell on the film, revealed that he served as a "mediator" between the director and Adams, trying to help them find a way to work together effectively. Bale praised both Russell and Adams, calling them "incredible talents" whose creative differences were simply the nature of the filmmaking process.

Despite the tensions, the film was a critical success, earning several Oscar nominations for both Lawrence and Adams. The experience ultimately taught Adams the importance of separating her work and personal life, as she was determined not to bring the difficult set environment home to her daughter.