Jennifer Lawrence Opens Up About Dropping Out Of Middle School, Doing ‘Red Sparrow’ Nude Scenes

Jennifer Lawrence, 27, is living proof that you don’t need a high school diploma to be a success.

The movie star opened up in a segment with 60 Minutes that she did not finish middle school. “I dropped out of middle school,” she said. “I don’t technically have a GED or a diploma. I am self-educated.”

She knew school wasn’t for her because she “struggled through school” and “never felt very smart.” The fact she dropped out of middle school was something she never regretted because it made her who she is today. “I wanted to forge my own path. I found what I wanted to do and I didn’t want anything getting in the way of it. Even friends, for many years, were not as important to me as my career.”

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The actress is now star in the upcoming movie, Red Sparrow. Lawrence was wary about the role because nudity was required. In 2014, the actress had her nude photos leaked online and was “devastated,” but she overcame it. “I realized that there was a difference between consent and not and I showed up for the first day and I did it and I felt empowered,” she explained. “I feel like something that was taken from me I got back and am using in my art.”

Red Sparrow arrives in theaters March 2.