Jennifer Lawrence has claimed she was the first ever woman to be cast as the lead in an action movie, with fans slamming the remark as "absurd".
The actress is well-known for her role as Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games film series, but claims executives were concerned that boys wouldn't be able to "identify with a female lead".
She added that people are told this "to keep certain people" out of starring roles, as she discussed the lack of opportunities for women in action films.
However, some fans were quick to point out that several women had fronted action films before Jennifer, including Uma Thurman in Kill Bill and Sigourney Weaver in Alien.
"I remember when I was doing Hunger Games, nobody had ever put a woman in the lead of an action movie because it wouldn’t work.
"Because we were told girls and boys can both identify with a male lead, but boys cannot identify with a female lead."
The 32-year-old added: "It just makes me so happy every single time I see a movie come out that just blows through every one of those beliefs, and proves that it is just a lie to keep certain people out of the movies."
Film fans were quick to point out Jennifer's mistake on Twitter.
"Jennifer Lawrence claims no women were action movie stars before her is one of most absurd takes I've ever heard! Lmao 1979 we had Sigourney Weaver in ALIEN," one person wrote.
Another added: "Jennifer Lawrence believes that she was the 1st female lead in an action movie. Sigourney Weaver was kicking a** in Alien 11 years before #JLaw was born."
"Jennifer Lawrence says there were no female action heroes before she did "The Hunger Games" so please take a moment to mourn for Demi Moore who apparently never existed," penned a third.
Other people jumped to defend the actress and thank her for highlighting sexism in Hollywood.
One person commented: "What Jennifer Lawrence said about being the first female action lead was incorrect. But the point she was making was absolutely spot on."
Another added: "She’s literally saying she was told this by studios, and was ONE OF the first female leads in those 2010s dystopias (which is 100% true), people need to let it go and grow up."
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