Hunger Games star Jennifer Lawrence says playing strong female leads is not important to her and she would be happy to play “a vulnerable mess”.

Speaking at the premiere of her new film, Joy, the American Hustle star said: “It’s not important to me [to play strong female leads].

Lawrence at the premiere of Joy (2015) last Thursday, December 17. Photo: PA Wire

“I’m completely willing to play a vulnerable mess.”

The film has been nominated for a Golden Globe award, and Lawrence has been shortlisted for the best actress prize.

There is also speculation that she could be in line for a second Oscar.

But Lawrence, wearing a black coat over her backless black dress, appeared to have her hopes in check.

She said: “It should be Brie Larson’s year. But [a second Oscar] would be very exciting.”

Larson’s star turn in Room has put her among the front-runners.

But she may face stiff competition from Lawrence in her role as Joy Mangano, whose real-life story is told by the film.

Mangano was a struggling single mother of three children when she invented the Miracle Mop, a self-wringing and flexible mop which became hugely popular in the United States. Mangano went on to build a business empire, thanks in part to Neil Walker, a telesales executive played by Bradley Cooper.

There is also speculation that she could be in line for a second Oscar

Robert De Niro stars as Rudy Mangano, Joy’s father.

Reviews so far have praised Lawrence’s performance, with Rotten Tomatoes, the online review aggregator, saying: “Joy is anchored by a strong performance from Jennifer Lawrence, although director David O. Russell’s uncertain approach to its fascinating fact-based tale only sporadically sparks bursts of the titular emotion.”

The film is out in UK cinemas on January 1.

Russell has previously worked with Lawrence, De Niro and Cooper to great acclaim.

He reserved special praise for Lawrence, saying: “The unexpected beauty and sadness that’s in life – anything I do with Jennifer is about that.

“Enchantment, and loss and hope: that’s why I make pictures with her.

“She has all that. She is a sort of magically chemical person that I have to earn the right to put in front of the camera and show her in a way she’s not been shown before.”