How theatre can can lead to constructive political conversations

Eight months before the 2026 midterms, one of Hollywood’s most recognizable figures has offered a blunt assessment of her industry’s political influence. Jennifer Lawrence, known for speaking out on issues from gender equality to democratic norms, now questions whether celebrity activism has any real impact.

In a recent interview, Lawrence stated that “celebrities do not make a difference whatsoever in who people vote for.” This is notable both because of her prominence and because it comes at a time when American politics is deeply intertwined with culture and entertainment. She described the Trump era as a time when she felt she was “running around like a chicken with my head cut off,” trying to use her platform to sound alarms. But after years of backlash, polarization, and the sense that celebrity statements only “add fuel to a fire that’s ripping the country apart,” she’s questioning the value of speaking out.