For many people, kissing a coworker would be the definition of awkward. For actors, however, it’s often just another day on the job. Hollywood romance may look glamorous on screen, but behind the scenes it can involve nerves, mismatched chemistry, and sometimes… way too much saliva. Jennifer Lawrence, known for her unfiltered honesty and comedic candor, has never shied away from sharing exactly how uncomfortable—or downright gross—some of her on-screen kissing experiences have been.
Over the years, Lawrence has offered fans vivid, hilarious, and occasionally cringe-inducing details about locking lips with her co-stars. One of the most talked-about examples involves her Silver Linings Playbook collaborator Bradley Cooper, whose enthusiastic kissing style initially caught her off guard.
Jennifer Lawrence: Hollywood’s Most Honest Storyteller
Jennifer Lawrence has built a reputation not just as an Oscar-winning actress, but as one of the most refreshingly candid stars in Hollywood. Whether she’s tripping on the red carpet or oversharing on talk shows, Lawrence has a knack for turning even the most awkward moments into comedy.
That honesty extends to her experiences filming romantic scenes. Unlike many actors who keep things vague or diplomatic, Lawrence has repeatedly gone into graphic detail—often to the audience’s mix of horror and amusement—about what it’s really like to kiss her co-stars on camera.
The “Catching Fire” Kiss That Turned Gross
One of Lawrence’s most infamous stories came during a 2013 talk show appearance, when she described kissing Josh Hutcherson in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. According to Lawrence, the timing of the scene could not have been worse.
Hutcherson had just filmed a resuscitation moment with Sam Claflin, leaving his face wet with drool. Meanwhile, Lawrence herself was crying intensely for the scene, resulting in mucus running down her face. Instead of glossing over the moment, she described it in vivid detail, even bragging about recording a video of an impressively long, unbreakable string of snot on her phone.
The story perfectly encapsulated Lawrence’s approach to celebrity storytelling: brutally honest, self-deprecating, and completely unfiltered.
Bradley Cooper’s “Wet Kisser” Reputation
While Lawrence clearly had no issue poking fun at herself, she also didn’t hold back when it came to her co-stars. Bradley Cooper, her love interest in Silver Linings Playbook, found himself the subject of one of her more memorable critiques.
Cooper later revealed that after filming a kissing scene, Lawrence bluntly informed him that he was a “wet kisser.” The comment, shared by Cooper during a talk show appearance, was not meant as a compliment—and he admitted it was not something anyone wants to hear after a romantic scene.
Despite the excess moisture, the kiss worked beautifully on screen. In fact, their chemistry was so convincing that it won the MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss, proving that what feels awkward during filming can still translate into movie magic.
Turning Criticism Into Chemistry
Interestingly, Lawrence’s initial discomfort didn’t stop her from fully committing to the role. In later interviews, she revealed that she never holds back during kissing scenes, explaining that tongue is simply part of the job. She jokingly wondered whether that made her a “perverted co-star,” before clarifying that she believed it was completely normal.
Over time, her assessment of Cooper became much more positive. When asked to rate his kissing skills, Lawrence upgraded her opinion, calling his technique “fantastic.” Whatever issues she had with moisture levels clearly didn’t outweigh their strong on-screen connection.
More Complaints… This Time About Sweat
Saliva wasn’t the only thing Lawrence noticed during her time working with Cooper. While preparing for their dance scenes in Silver Linings Playbook, she recalled another less-than-glamorous detail: Cooper’s tendency to sweat.
According to Lawrence, his perspiration started in unexpected places, prompting her to jokingly question how someone’s body could sweat in that order. Instead of ruining their working relationship, these observations became part of the playful banter that defined their public dynamic.
The pair would go on to reunite for the 2014 film Serena, proving that Lawrence had no real hesitation about continuing to work—and kiss—Cooper on screen.
Cooper vs. Liam Hemsworth: The Kissing Verdict
Years later, Lawrence was asked the ultimate comparison question: who was the better kisser, Bradley Cooper or Liam Hemsworth? Appearing on a daytime talk show, she didn’t hesitate to choose Cooper as the superior lip-locker.
The answer surprised some fans, especially since Lawrence has openly admitted that she and Hemsworth kissed off camera as well as on. During a game segment on a late-night show, she defended herself by simply stating that Hemsworth was “really hot.”
Still, her on-screen kissing strategy with Hemsworth was noticeably different.
Garlic, Tuna, and Revenge Kissing
Hemsworth later revealed that Lawrence had a mischievous habit when filming kissing scenes together. Before shooting, she would deliberately eat foods with strong odors—like garlic or tuna—and sometimes skip brushing her teeth.
To her credit, Lawrence would usually warn him in advance, but the message was clear: this was not meant to be a pleasant experience. When asked about it later, Lawrence admitted she did the same thing to Josh Hutcherson, confessing that oral hygiene was not her top priority for those scenes.
However, she made an important distinction.
Who Gets Minty-Fresh Treatment?
Lawrence eventually clarified that not all co-stars were treated equally. When it came to actors she deeply respected—or found particularly attractive—she made sure to brush her teeth and pop a mint.
Bradley Cooper and Christian Bale, she revealed, were firmly in that category. Hemsworth even joked that if he were kissing someone like Bale, he would probably freshen up too.
The revelation added another layer to Lawrence’s candid charm: she may be playful and mischievous, but she also knows when to be considerate.
The Reality Behind Hollywood Romance
Jennifer Lawrence’s stories offer a refreshing reminder that movie kisses are rarely as romantic as they appear. Between saliva, sweat, emotional scenes, and long shooting days, the reality is often awkward, uncomfortable, and unintentionally funny.
What makes Lawrence stand out is her willingness to laugh about it—and invite audiences to laugh with her. In doing so, she strips away the illusion of Hollywood perfection and replaces it with something far more relatable.