Jennifer Lawrence shares 'extremely isolating' postpartum struggles after the birth of her first child as she stars as a mother battling psychosis in Cannes film Die, My Love

Daily Mail​

18-05-2025

has candidly shared her struggles during an 'extremely isolating' postpartum period after the birth of her first child.
The actress, 34, who welcomed her second baby earlier this year with husband Cooke Maroney, is starring as a mother battling psychosis in her new film Die, My Love, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on Saturday.
Speaking at a press conference to promote the film, Jennifer candidly shared how she related to her character's struggles after struggling with the loneliness of her early motherhood.
The Hunger Games star gave birth to her first child, son Cy, back in 2022, and shared that she had not long had her baby when she was approached to star in the film.
She said: 'I mean, obviously, as a mother, it was really hard to separate what I would do as opposed to what she would do.
It was just heartbreaking. When I first read the book, it was just such a devastating, powerful... Lynne (Ramsay) said it was dreamlike.
'I had just read my first (baby). And there's not really anything like postpartum. It's extremely isolating, which is so interesting when Lynn (Ramsay) moves this couple into Montana.
'She doesn't have a community. She doesn't have her people. But the truth is, extreme anxiety and extreme depression is isolated, no matter where you are. You feel like an alien. And so it deeply moved me. I wanted to work with Lynn Ramsey since I saw Rat Catcher.'
In the film, Jennifer stars as Grace, a new mother whose mental health begins to deteriorate as her marriage crumbles, with Robert Pattinson starring as her husband Jackson.
The star admitted that since having children, it has changed her perspective on her career, and described motherhood as 'brutal and incredible.'
She added: 'Well, having children changes everything.
'It changes your whole life. But it's brutal and incredible. And so not only do they go into every decision of if I'm working, where I'm working, when I'm working.
'It taught me... I didn't know that I could feel so much. My job has a lot to do with emotion. They've opened up the world to me. It's almost like feeling like a blister or something, so sensitive.
'So they've changed my life, obviously, for the best, and they've changed me creatively. I highly recommend having kids if you want to be an actor.'
In the film, Jennifer stars as Grace, a new mother whose mental health begins to deteriorate as her marriage crumbles, with Robert Pattinson (pictured) starring as her husband Jackson
This film is the first time Jennifer and Robert have worked together, and the Twilight star, who welcomed his first child with fiancée Suki Waterhouse last year, echoed his co-star's sentiments.
He said: 'I think in the most unexpected way, having a baby gives you the biggest trove of energy and inspiration.
'Ever since she was born, it's reintegrated the way I approach work. We just your completed. Can you go over here?'
Die My Love is described as both a horror and a comedy and was directed by Lynne Ramsay, who was also present on the red carpet.
Jennifer and Robert both rose to fame in the 2010s, with Jennifer starring in film adaptations of The Hunger Games series as Katniss Everdeen and Robert Pattinson gaining worldwide fame for his role as Edward Cullen in Twilight.
Die My Love is based on a 2017 novel by Argentine writer, Ariana Harwicz, which details a new mum's battle with postpartum depression and subsequent psychosis.
The red carpet appearance is Jennifer's first since she welcomed her second child earlier this year, whose name and gender are not known, with husband Cooke Maroney.
In a 2022 interview with Vogue, the actress opened up about the joy of becoming a first-time mother following the birth of her first child that year, sharing that the birth of her son Cy 'felt like my whole life had started over.'
'I just stared. I was just so in love. I also fell in love with all babies everywhere. Newborns are just so amazing,' she gushed.
This year's Cannes Film Festival is taking place in the wake of Trump´s vow to enact tariffs on international films.
Cannes, where filmmakers, sales agents and journalists gather from around the world, is the Olympics of the big screen, with its own golden prize, the Palme d´Or, to give out at the end.
Filmmakers come from nearly every corner of the globe to showcase their films while dealmakers work through the night to sell finished films or packaged productions to various territories.
'You release a film into that Colosseum-like situation,' says Brazilian director Kleber Mendonça Filho, who´s returning to Cannes with 'The Secret Agent, a thriller set during Brazil ´s dictatorship.
'You´ve got to really prepare for the whole experience because it´s quite intense - not very far from the feeling of approaching a roller coaster as you go up the steps at the Palais.'
Trump sent shock waves through Hollywood and the international film community when he announced on May 4 that all movies "produced in Foreign Lands" will face 100% tariffs.
The White House has said no final decisions have been made. Options being explored include federal incentives for U.S.-based productions, rather than tariffs. But the announcement was a reminder of how international tensions can destabilize even the oldest cultural institutions.
The Cannes Film Festival originally emerged in the World War II years, when the rise of fascism in Italy led to the founding of an alternative to the then-government controlled Venice Film Festival.
In the time since, Cannes´ resolute commitment to cinema has made it a beacon to filmmakers. Countless directors have come to make their name.