Elle's Women in Hollywood 2017

Elle Magazine has released their 24th annual Women in Hollywood issue, with different covers going to Jennifer Lawrence, Laura Dern, Jessica Chastain, Margot Robbie, Tessa Thompson, Riley Keough, Cicely Tyson, and Kathleen Kennedy. Here are some highlights from the issue, which goes on sale October 17th:

Laura Dern on portraying relatable women:

“In my twenties, the characters I was asked to play were limited by, well, she’s just a girl—she doesn’t mean it or she doesn’t know who she is. So I’m starting to play women who just don’t know how to do it—they’re not girls, but they haven’t figured it out, still. That’s so relatable! I’m having the time of my life.”

Jennifer Lawrence on the internal pressure of making movies:
“The only time I find myself worrying about the result is when I’m filming, because I’m working all day, and then I come home and my brain’s just like, What should we panic about? After I’ve finished the process, though, it’s done for me. I’ve done my work, and I’ve gotten what I need to get out of it—I’ve fulfilled myself. What happens next doesn’t really matter.”

Jessica Chastain on her production company, Freckle Films:
“For me, it’s for finding and creating opportunities for women and minority groups that might not have an outlet, whether it be as a writer or an actor or a director. It’s important to me to create these stepping stones.”

Cicely Tyson on women who have influenced her career:
“At the very beginning of my career, I had a teacher whose name was Vinnette Carroll; she directed a number of Broadway shows. She kept saying to me, “You know the problem with beautiful women? They tend to rely on their beauty.” And I said, How wrong she is! I never think of myself as being beautiful. I thought, What are you talking about? I work so hard. And I did. But I learned from her how important it is to learn your craft. When all else fails, you will land on that, and that alone.”

Margot Robbie on wanting to work behind-the-scenes:
“I never thought I’d want to be a producer. I’d always wanted to direct and write, but I got to a point as an actress where I felt like I was everyone’s puppet. I thought, Why don’t I get a say in the art I’m making?”