Jennifer Lawrence Talks Gender Pay Inequality; Joins Darren Aronofsky's Next Film, Exits Linklater's 'Rosie Project'

Problems of inequality aren’t going to be solved overnight, but change starts with a conversation, and when it comes to the gender gap between men and women in all industries, that talk has been going on far too long. It’s the kind of issue that feels like it should have been resolved years if not decades ago, but at the moment, it feels like there is a tide forming, and Jennifer Lawrence is the latest to weigh in on the topic.

In an essay for Lena Dunham‘s Lenny, Lawrence admits that her problems involving millions of dollars in wages isn’t exactly "relatable," but shares that her eyes were opened after the Sony hack about how much work she had to do to get her fair shake in the industry. Here’s an excerpt of what she had to say.

I got mad at myself. I failed as a negotiator because I gave up early.

I would be lying if I didn’t say there was an element of wanting to be liked that influenced my decision to close the deal without a real fight. I didn’t want to seem “difficult” or “spoiled.” At the time, that seemed like a fine idea, until I saw the payroll on the Internet and realized every man I was working with definitely didn’t worry about being “difficult” or “spoiled.” This could be a young-person thing. It could be a personality thing. I’m sure it’s both. But this is an element of my personality that I’ve been working against for years, and based on the statistics, I don’t think I’m the only woman with this issue. Are we socially conditioned to behave this way?

And Lawrence saves her sharpest barbs for her closing thoughts:

I don’t think I’ve ever worked for a man in charge who spent time contemplating what angle he should use to have his voice heard. It’s just heard. Jeremy Renner, Christian Bale, and Bradley Cooper all fought and succeeded in negotiating powerful deals for themselves. If anything, I’m sure they were commended for being fierce and tactical, while I was busy worrying about coming across as a brat and not getting my fair share. Again, this might have NOTHING to do with my vagina, but I wasn’t completely wrong when another leaked Sony email revealed a producer referring to a fellow lead actress in a negotiation as a “spoiled brat.” For some reason, I just can’t picture someone saying that about a man.

It’s potent stuff , and good luck to anyone who tries shortchange Lawrence from here on out. She’s getting real paid from now on.

Meanwhile, the actress has dropped a promising picture from her slate. THR reports she has exited "The Rosie Project" which is slated to be directed by Richard Linklater. Based on Graeme Simsion‘s bestselling book, with a script by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber ("The Spectacular Now," "The Fault In Our Stars"), this is a romantic comedy about a scientist who thinks he’s put together the formula for the perfect match, until he meets someone who turns his whole theory upside down. The project is still a go, with recasting for the lead underway, and Linklater still attached.

The good news? Variety reports that she’s in talks to star in Darren Aronofsky‘s next film, which he plans to shoot in the spring. There are no plot details, but it’s an independent project he wrote after being unable to launch a movie at New Regency about "a boy living in Staten Island whose drawings come to life." And no, it’s not that Evil Kneivel project with Channing Tatum either — Aronofsky is no longer involved with that one.

Update 10/13: THR reports that Richard Linklater has also exited "The Rosie Project."