Jennifer Lawrence wants mums to give themselves grace

The Oscar winner plays a mum struggling with postpartum depression in psychological drama Die My Love

- Alison de Souza

Actress Jennifer Lawrence (left) plays a young woman whose relationship with her husband (Robert Pattinson) unravels after the birth of their first child in Die My Love.

(PHOTOS: AFP, SHAW ORGANISATION)

Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence hopes her new film - in which she plays a mother grappling with postpartum depression - encourages mums to give themselves more grace.

Opening in Singapore cinemas on Dec 18 and directed by Scottish filmmaker Lynne Ramsay (We Need To Talk About Kevin, 2011), Die My Love follows a young woman (Lawrence) whose identity and relationship with her husband (Robert Pattinson) begin unravelling after the birth of their first child.

Lawrence, who won a Best Actress Oscar for the romantic comedy-drama Silver Linings Playbook (2012), says the role has changed her outlook on being a wife and mother.

Speaking at a screening of the film in Los Angeles in November, the 35-year-old American actress - who is getting major Oscar buzz for this performance and is nominated for a Golden Globe - believes the story adds much-needed nuance to discussions of postpartum depression, "something that I think our society has misunderstood".

Postpartum depression is not just one thing, she explains.