Jennifer Lawrence feared pay dispute could end her career

Jennifer Lawrence feared speaking out over Hollywood's gender pay gap could end her movie career because "opinionated actors" are frowned upon.

The Oscar winner got caught up in a high profile dispute over women's pay in the entertainment industry after emails leaked during the Sony Pictures hacking scandal revealed Jennifer and her co-star Amy Adams had been paid significantly less than the male actors on 2013 drama American Hustle.

Jennifer later opened up about the issues in an article published in Lena Dunham's Lenny newsletter, titled Why Do I Make Less Than My Male Co-Stars?.

In the article, Jennifer blamed herself for failing to demand a fair wage for her work on acclaimed comedy drama American Hustle, and she has now explained that she initially feared expressing her opinions on the subject would hurt her professionally.

"I used to just keep my mouth shut about everything because my job depends on everyone going to see my movies, not just people who agree with my opinions," she tells TV host Charlie Rose. "And people don't really like opinionated actors or celebrities. But as I get older and I learn more and I have opinions... (I realise I have) just as much of a right to speak (as anyone)...

"I want to be that person who will say that thing that's really hard to say, that's really awkward and really difficult... One day I want to be able to just say it, and not make a joke, and not try to make it cute, but to just say it."

"I got mad at myself," Jennifer previously wrote in her open letter, which was published in October (15). "I failed as a negotiator because I gave up early... I would be lying if I didn't say there was an element of wanting to be liked that influenced my decision to close the deal without a real fight. I didn't want to seem 'difficult' or 'spoiled'."

The letter sparked an outpouring of support from fellow actors, including Harry Potter star-turned-campaigner Emma Watson, as well as similar tales of pay troubles from stars including Sienna Miller, Sharon Stone and Sandra Bullock.