When two of Hollywood’s biggest stars step into parenthood, it’s bound to spark curiosity. But for Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson, becoming parents wasn’t just a personal milestone, it reshaped how they see the world, their careers, and even themselves. Speaking candidly during the Cannes Film Festival while promoting their upcoming psychological drama Die, My Love, both stars opened up about the raw, challenging, and transformative journey of parenthood.
From sleepless nights to emotional breakthroughs, their words reveal a deeply human side of celebrity life – and why having children might be the most brutal, beautiful chapter yet.
Jennifer Lawrence: “It’s Brutal and Incredible”
Jennifer Lawrence has always been known for her honesty, but motherhood seems to have added new emotional layers to her candidness. Since welcoming her first child, Cy, in early 2022 with husband Cooke Maroney, and now parenting a second baby, Lawrence has embraced the chaos and joy of parenting with wide-open arms and eyes.
“Having children changes everything. It changes your whole life. It’s brutal and incredible,” she told reporters at Cannes, her tone somewhere between awe and exhaustion.
The Oscar-winning actress was five months pregnant while filming Die, My Love, a harrowing tale based on the novel by Ariana Harwicz. In it, she plays Grace, a woman descending into psychosis after childbirth. For Lawrence, the role was more than method acting, it was a mirror to her own internal world.
“There’s not really anything like postpartum,” she said. “It’s extremely isolating. You feel like an alien.”
These raw admissions peeled back the polished Hollywood image many associate with red carpet-ready celebrities. Lawrence explained how motherhood doesn’t simply demand time; it demands every part of you, emotionally and psychologically.
“I didn’t know that I could feel so much,” she said. “And my job has a lot to do with emotions. It’s almost like feeling a blister or something, so sensitive.”
Robert Pattinson: “You Get This Strange Energy”
For Robert Pattinson, fatherhood came more recently. In March 2024, he and longtime partner Suki Waterhouse welcomed their first child, a daughter. While he’s often kept his personal life low-key, Cannes gave Pattinson a chance to speak openly about the seismic shift in his world.
“Having a baby gives you the biggest trove of energy and inspiration afterward,” he said. “It’s a different kind of energy.”
Known for roles that demand physical and emotional stamina, like The Batman or Tenet. Pattinson now finds himself drawing motivation from a less adrenaline-fueled place: early mornings, diapers, and baby giggles.
Yet like Lawrence, he admits that parenting also comes with identity shifts. “Trying to figure out what your role in the relationship is afterward is incredibly difficult,” he added. “You’re not the one carrying the child. You want to be supportive, but you’re constantly wondering: ‘Am I doing enough? Am I helping?”
These quiet vulnerabilities might be surprising to some, but they underscore a growing theme in Hollywood: parenting isn’t a backdrop, it’s a central story arc in their lives.
Art Imitates Life in Die, My Love
The pair’s film Die, My Love adds an eerie synchronicity to their parenting journey. Set in rural France, the story follows a woman (Grace) struggling with the mental toll of new motherhood, and a partner (played by Pattinson) grappling with how to help. Both roles required an intense emotional investment, and both stars admit their own life experiences made that possible.
Jennifer Lawrence said the lines between reality and fiction often blurred while shooting. “Sometimes I couldn’t tell whether I was crying because of Grace, or because I was just overwhelmed with my own thoughts,” she explained. “That’s what makes it feel so real.”
Pattinson’s portrayal of a distant but desperate husband is just as poignant. He described preparing for the role while adjusting to sleepless nights with his newborn at home. “You start seeing your partner in a new way. You see their strength, but also their fragility,” he said. “It’s a weird mix of love and helplessness.”
Both actors credit the film’s director, Lynne Ramsay, for guiding them through such emotionally turbulent waters. And it seems their efforts paid off. The film received a nine-minute standing ovation at Cannes, with critics praising the performances as career-defining.
The Pressure of Performing While Parenting
Balancing work and parenting is a challenge for anyone, but for Jennifer Lawrence and Pattinson, the stakes are especially high. Every choice, from roles to film schedules to publicity, must now be weighed against the needs of their children.
“I think about time differently now,” Lawrence said. “Before I had kids, I could fly to Europe for a two-week shoot without blinking. Now, everything is a negotiation. Will I miss their birthday? Will I be too tired to be present? You can’t just think about yourself anymore.”
Pattinson echoed the sentiment, noting that planning his next film depends on more than just artistic interest. “It’s about what kind of dad I want to be. Do I want my daughter to grow up always seeing me leave? That’s the question I keep coming back to.”
Both actors have made clear that while they’re not stepping away from acting, they are no longer chasing every opportunity that comes their way. The roles have to matter. The message has to be meaningful. And most importantly, their families have to come first.
Navigating Postpartum and Mental Health With Jennifer Lawrence
One of the bravest aspects of Lawrence’s recent interviews is her openness about postpartum depression and mental health. The topic has long been shrouded in stigma, especially in the entertainment industry. But she doesn’t hold back.
“Postpartum is lonely. It can be dark,” she said. “And it’s not talked about enough. We’re just expected to be grateful and glowing, but sometimes it feels like you’re drowning.”
She said her role in Die, My Love helped her process some of those emotions and made her feel seen.
“Playing Grace wasn’t just acting, it was exorcising. I felt like I was letting out feelings I didn’t even know I had.”
Mental health professionals have praised Jennifer Lawrence for speaking up, especially given the influence she holds. Dr. Sheila Marcus, a perinatal psychiatrist at the University of Michigan, told Healthline: “When public figures normalize postpartum struggles, it gives permission to millions of women to seek help and know they’re not alone.”
Parenthood Changed Their Sense of Purpose
It’s clear that both Pattinson and Lawrence are not the same people they were before becoming parents. And perhaps that’s the biggest takeaway.
For Robert Pattinson, his once famously aloof approach to acting has shifted. “I care more now. Not just about my work, but about what it says, who it impacts, and how it might one day reflect on my child.”
Lawrence, too, speaks of a deeper responsibility. “I want to make movies that mean something. I want my kids to look back and be proud of what I did.”
Their journey into parenthood hasn’t slowed them down, but it has redirected them. Their priorities have changed. Their boundaries have strengthened. And their sense of self has expanded.
What Comes Next?
Both stars are in no rush to jump into multiple new projects. After Cannes, Lawrence is said to be considering a break to focus on her children. Pattinson is weighing script options, but reportedly wants to avoid long location shoots for the foreseeable future.
As for Die, My Love, the film will release globally later this year, and buzz is already building for major award nominations.
But the biggest legacy of their performance might not be a trophy. It might be the way they’ve opened a new, vulnerable conversation about parenting in the public eye—one that isn’t coated in perfection, but grounded in truth.
Final Thoughts on Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson
In a world obsessed with celebrity glamour, Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson have done something far more radical. They’ve told the truth. Parenting is hard. It’s messy. It’s full of contradictions. It makes you question who you are, even as it shows you who you can become.
Their stories remind us that transformation doesn’t come from roles or fame, but from the quiet, sleepless moments of caring for a new life. It’s not always camera-ready. But it’s real. And for them, it’s everything.
