Vanity Fair Focuses On Jennifer Lawrence’s Desirability Rather Than Her Talent

Jennifer Lawrence has two major franchises under her belt, an Oscar nomination for the 2010 drama “Winter’s Bone,” and she has earned rave reviews for her performance in “Silver Linings Playbook,” one of the best reviewed films of 2012. Yet you wouldn’t know any of that from the headline of her recent Vanity Fair cover story, which will likely lead many to confuse the mag for Maxim this month.

The 22-year-old actress, who shot to fame after starring in the wildly successful film adaptation of “The Hunger Games,” is profiled in VF’s “Award’s Season Issue” with a cover story that reads “One Million Men Say Jennifer Lawrence Is The World’s ‘Most Desirable Woman’!”

The headline refers to AskMen's annual list of the “99 Most Desirable Women in the World,” which Lawrence topped for 2013. The site gives women an overall score based on “sexiness” and “success” while rating their face, intelligence, body, humor, money and wild side.

The title forgoes mentioning the star’s work and achievements in lieu of demonstrating how “desirable” she appears to men.

As the blog D-Listed points out, by focusing on Lawrence’s sex appeal, VF diminishes her talent.

“Jennifer seems quite appropriate for the cover since she’s already been nominated once for the Best Actress Oscar and will probably receive another nom for her work in ‘Silver Linings Playbook.’ However, the cover caption doesn’t say anything about her talent but only makes mention of how she is ‘the world’s most desirable woman.’”

The accompanying photos feature the star striking sultry, sex kitten poses. Sporting teased hair, she appears in a variety of skin-tight outfits, including a low-cut red dress and a midriff-bearing pants-and-shirt ensemble. In one photo, she appears in leopard pants while sprawled across the hood of a car.

Though seductive photos of actresses, including those of Lawrence, are nothing new, the pictures are a departure from the typical shoots she does, which are tame by comparison.

While the sexed-up shoot is disappointing, it isn’t likely to overshadow the actress’ thriving career.

This year Lawrence will star in the “Hunger Games” sequel “Catching Fire” and the depression-era drama “Serena,” alongside “Silver Linings…” costar Bradley Cooper. The Louisville, Ky., native will also appear in the “X-Men: First Class” follow-up “X-Men: Days of Future’s Past,” opposite Hugh Jackman, Michael Fassbender and real-life boyfriend Nicholas Holt.

Directed by David O. Russel, “Silver Linings…” is expected earn Lawrence a Best Actress Oscar nomination. The star is currently up for a Screen Actors Guild Award and a Golden Globe Award for her portrayal of a depressed widow who enters a ballroom dance contest.