Jennifer Lawrence Recalls Going Blue, Blonde, And Back Again On Her X-Men Films

Jennifer Lawrence recently took part in a lively actresses roundtable for The Hollywood Reporter that also featured Wicked and Wicked: For Good star Cynthia Erivo, and the conversation offered a fun behind-the-scenes comparison of two very different blockbuster experiences. As Erivo discussed the demanding process of filming Wicked and its follow-up simultaneously, she reflected on the consistency required to remain in full green makeup throughout production, which is a challenge that shaped her entire shooting schedule. That insight prompted Lawrence to jump in with a knowing laugh and draw parallels to her own time in the X-Men franchise.

Lawrence explained how her experience as Mystique came with a unique logistical twist. Unlike Erivo’s steady green look, Lawrence’s filming days were unpredictable, as she often shifted between being fully blue as Mystique and appearing in her natural human form. This back-and-forth became a defining part of her time across multiple films, including X-Men: First Class, X-Men: Days of Future Past, X-Men: Apocalypse, and Dark Phoenix. Responding to Erivo’s comments, Lawrence quipped, “Well, at least you’re green no matter what. [On X-Men,] we could never do that because sometimes I’d be blue, sometimes I’d be blond. They’d say, ‘We’re going to try to shoot something else,’ and it’s like, ‘OK, just give me eight hours.’”

The moment resonates with those who remember the famously intense makeup process required to transform Lawrence (and OG Rebecca Romijn) into Mystique, especially in the earlier films when full-body blue makeup was the norm. Her comment highlighted not only the physical demands of the role, but also the scheduling challenges that came with such an elaborate transformation. While Erivo’s green makeup presented its own endurance test, Lawrence’s experience underscored how even subtle changes in character presentation can dramatically impact a production day.

Ultimately, the roundtable exchange served as a reminder of the often-unseen labor behind iconic performances. From Erivo’s commitment to staying green across two massive productions to Lawrence’s marathon makeup sessions bouncing between blue and human appearances, both actresses shared a candid glimpse into the realities of franchise filmmaking. It was a humorous, relatable moment that connected two very different cinematic worlds through the shared experience of long hours in the makeup chair.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter