She announced herself to the world at a young age in
The Burning Plain
and
Winter's Bone
, gripping dramas set in America's deprived heartland. Ironic, then, that such a gifted character actress become a household name through two of the biggest fantasy roles in the business: the shapeshifting assassin Mystique from the X-Men series and the gutsy, warlike heroine of the Hunger Games trilogy, Katniss Everdeen—the Girl on Fire. As Katniss and Mystique, she owns the screen, oozing grace, attitude, and menace, redefining the roles of women in action films—this girl doesn't need saving by anyone. But Jennifer couldn't be more different off-screen. Always ready with a smile or a quip about embarrassing everyday struggles, she is loved by fans for being a genuinely relatable personality. And make no mistake: she has had every reason to lose her sunny disposition. She struggled early on in her career with a hurtful "fat actress" label in spite of her healthy body type, and suffered public heartbreak with the likes of Coldplay's Chris Martin. In 2014, when she suffered the ultimate indignity of having private photos leaked onto the internet for all to see, she emerged with her head held high. This is the first biography of an Academy Award winner, a star of our screens for years to come, and a role model for girls and young women everywhere.