Now that The Hunger Games: Catching Fire has enjoyed its U.K premiere – and it wasn’t rubbish – everyone’s hanging on to everything Jennifer Lawrence says. And she’s decided to weigh in on the debate on feminism and sexualisation in pop culture, and dangnabbit we’re listening.

The Hunger Games
Katniss (Lawrence) and Peeta (Josh Hutchinson) in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

At 23, and playing Katniss – the protagonist in one of the most popular franchise of a generation – Oscar-winning Lawrence is certainly an influential figure for many teenagers across the globe, and that’s not something she takes lightly.

Check out photos from the Hunger Games: Catching Fire premiere

"I think she's a wonderful role model for young girls," says Lawrence, who has refused to lose weight for roles when asked, and that doesn’t exclude Katniss. "When we were doing the first Hunger Games, it was a big discussion because it's called The Hunger Games. She's from District 12. She's obviously underfed, so she would be incredibly thin,” she added to USA Today.

But for Lawrence, eradicating any suggestion that females need to look one way or another to be happy is more important that her own career. And if she can make any changes to that paradigm while she still has a career, then she’s sure going to try.

What are the critics saying about Catching Fire?

"We have the ability to control this image that young girls are going to be seeing. Girls see enough of this body that we can't imitate, that we'll never be able to attain. This is going to be their hero, and we have control over that,” she explained.

Katniss
Jennifer Lawrence has become the face of the franchise

“So it's kind of an amazing opportunity to rid ourselves of that in this industry. I think it's better to look strong and healthy. I feel like someone like Kate Moss running at you with a bow and arrow wouldn't really be scary." We actually totally disgree with that last statement, but we get where she’s coming from.