Taylor Sheridan Gave Jennifer Lawrence Some Key Career Advice

Yellowstone's creator once gave The Hunger Games star Jennifer Lawrence (through speaking with her mother) some key career advice, before either of them became the huge names they are today. At the end of her teens, Lawrence broke out starring in 2010's Winter's Bone, going on to earn her first Oscar nomination. She later achieved wider mainstream recognition with X-Men and The Hunger Games.

A few years ago, Lawrence was surprised to learn that Taylor Sheridan was once her acting coach, as she only recalled her mother taking her to someone who returned their money and told them not to pursue any formal acting training. Sheridan, at the time, was teaching acting to supplement his income, and reportedly had nothing to teach Lawrence, already a singular talent at a young age.

In a new interview on SmartLess, the discussion contextualized this "rejection" a bit more, revealing how it may have majorly helped Lawrence's career. There was a comparison between "flashy performance acting" to a more "naturalistic" approach, of "just kinda [disappearing], [letting] the story take over," the former of which tends to get more recognition.

"You're so naturalistic, yet you are incredibly well […] awarded, nominated, recognized […]," Lawrence was told. "Do you think that maybe that's because you didn't go to acting school and learn how to act?" Lawrence then recalled what Sheridan once said to her mother, suggesting how this was a key piece of advice because of her particular style of acting. Check out her full comments below:

[…] my mom took me to this guy that this agency told me to meet to help me act or whatever. And he told my mom, "Don't put her in any acting lessons, don't do that." That guy, randomly, is Taylor Sheridan. […] Isn't that crazy? I guess he was an acting teacher or something back in the day.

"I love that note, 'Don't take her to acting school, she’ll learn how to act.' And what a great piece of advice that was," was the response. It paid off, as shortly after Winter's Bone, amid her rise as an international megastar for The Hunger Games, Lawrence won her Oscar for Silver Linings Playbook. She also went on to be nominated again for American Hustle and Joy.

Lawrence's career saw something of a decline after the conclusion of The Hunger Games and her streak of Oscar-nominated roles, but she has continued to give strong performances across genres, including titles such as Mother!, No Hard Feelings, Don't Look Up, and Red Sparrow. This year, she earned a Golden Globe nomination for her turn in Lynne Ramsay's Die My Love.

Lawrence is also set to star alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in Martin Scorsese's What Happens at Night and cameo in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. Meanwhile, Sheridan's Yellowstone franchise has become a behemoth with several upcoming spinoffs. He is also known for his work on Hell or High Water, Sicario, Wind River, and more.

Following their passing meeting years ago, both Jennifer Lawrence and Taylor Sheridan are seen as major creative forces in the industry. SmartLess is hosted by Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett, also nominated for a Golden Globe this year for Best Podcast.