Jennifer Lawrence Reveals Ambien Blunder During Hunger Games Shoot

Jennifer Lawrence recently shared an incident from the set of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire that involved an accidental Ambien intake, which caused challenges during filming. The award-winning actress disclosed this amusing yet concerning mishap during a conversation with fellow actor Leonardo DiCaprio on Variety‘s Actors on Actors series.

While preparing for a dance scene with the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, Lawrence mistakenly took Ambien, believing it to be a different medication. This led to her experiencing hallucinations as she performed. The situation reportedly annoyed her co-star Elizabeth Banks, who portrayed Effie Trinket in the series. Reflecting on the incident, Lawrence speculated that Banks might not have been aware of her state during the shoot.

“I was hallucinating. Elizabeth Banks got really annoyed with me. Maybe she didn’t know that I was on Ambien,” Lawrence recalled. This candid revelation highlights the pressures of acting in high-stakes environments, especially when the cast members are expected to deliver peak performances.

In addition to this incident, Lawrence recounted another mix-up while filming the spy thriller Red Sparrow. She mistakenly took Adderall instead of a sleeping pill, resulting in a sleepless night. “I am not somebody who can function without sleep,” she said. The experience was compounded by the need to deliver lines in a Russian accent, which only added to her stress.

After completing the four-film The Hunger Games series in 2015, Lawrence continued to take on diverse roles in films such as Joy, X-Men: Apocalypse, Mother!, and Don’t Look Up. She is set to reprise her role in the upcoming film The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, which is scheduled for release on November 20, 2026. Alongside her co-star Josh Hutcherson, Lawrence will return to the world of Panem, reigniting the franchise that significantly boosted her career.

During her discussion with DiCaprio, the two actors exchanged insights about their upcoming project, directed by the acclaimed Martin Scorsese. Titled What Happens at Night, the film follows a married couple’s harrowing journey as they navigate the eccentricities of a mysterious hotel in Europe while attempting to adopt a child.

DiCaprio, a seasoned collaborator with Scorsese, shared valuable advice on working with the renowned director, known for his films such as The Wolf of Wall Street and Gangs of New York. Given Lawrence’s previous challenges with sleep, it is likely that both actors will prioritize rest during filming to ensure they meet the high expectations associated with a Scorsese project.

As the entertainment industry looks forward to the next installment of The Hunger Games series, fans and colleagues alike will be watching closely for the duo’s performances in their upcoming cinematic endeavors. The honesty shared by Lawrence regarding her past experiences serves as a reminder of the realities faced by actors behind the scenes.