Jennifer Lawrence, the iconic Mystique in X-Men, reveals the hidden struggles behind her transformation, from arduous body paint to a surprising costume oversight. A unique glimpse into superhero cinema.
Taking over the role of Mystique, originally portrayed by Rebecca Romijn, Jennifer Lawrence made her mark in the X-Men universe. The character Mystique, also known as Raven Darkholme, possesses distinctive blue, scaly skin and often lacks clothing. This makes her one of the most iconic and instantly recognizable characters in the X-Men series. Jennifer's performance as Mystique was lauded, but the process of becoming the character was no easy feat.
For her first two X-Men movies, Jennifer's transformation into Mystique involved hours of body paint application. In "X-Men: First Class," it took an astonishing eight hours to complete the transformation. However, the process was refined to a relatively more manageable three hours for "X-Men: Days of Future Past." By "X-Men: Apocalypse," Jennifer Lawrence had had enough of the arduous body paint process. She insisted on an alternative solution, opting for a skintight suit, which she humorously described as a "blue pantyhose that goes around my whole body."
While the new costume may have sounded like a relief, it brought its own set of unexpected challenges, primarily due to a shocking lack of foresight from the costume designers. Jennifer Lawrence revealed the astonishing oversight during an appearance on "The Graham Norton Show" in 2016. The designers assumed that since she was a woman, they didn't need to consider certain biological realities. As Lawrence humorously put it, "The guys who made it were like: 'Well, she's a girl. She doesn't go to the bathroom!' So, I pee standing up out of a funnel."
Although the skintight suit was less taxing in the short term, it had its own long-term effects on Jennifer. She expressed her love for the movies but admitted her struggle with the paint used in her initial Mystique transformation. As she stated in an interview with Entertainment Weekly in 2015, "I love these movies - it's just the paint."
Jennifer Lawrence's experience with the Mystique role evolved over time. When she was just 19 years old while filming "X-Men: First Class," she confessed that she didn't pay much attention to the fumes and toxins from the body paint. However, as she grew older and more experienced, she became more conscious of potential health risks. By the time she filmed "X-Men: Apocalypse," she had reached a turning point in her understanding of the situation. Jennifer expressed her concerns, stating, "Now I'm almost 25, and I'm like: 'I can't even pronounce this, and that's going in my nose? I'm breathing that?'"
The challenges of becoming Mystique extended beyond just the visual transformation. It involved navigating the complexities of wearing the costume, which was far from a straightforward task. These difficulties are perhaps one of the reasons we are unlikely to see Jennifer Lawrence reprise her role as Raven in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Nevertheless, in the unpredictable world of cinema, who's to say she won't surprise us with a cameo in a future project?
Jennifer Lawrence's journey as Mystique offers a unique glimpse into the less glamorous aspects of the movie industry. It serves as a reminder that the magic we witness on screen often comes at the cost of hard work, dedication, and sometimes, a few amusing anecdotes. Jennifer Lawrence's revelation about her time as Mystique is a testament to the commitment of actors who endure discomfort and inconvenience to bring our favorite characters to life.
Share on Facebook
