Happy Birthday! Jennifer Lawrence Turns 26 Years Old Today

The odds should surely in her favor today. Let's all wish Jennifer Lawrence a happy birthday as she turned 26 today.

Born in August 1990, Jennifer was raised by her parents Gary and Karen in Louisville, KY. Despite having two older brothers around, Jennifer has openly described her childhood as an "unhappy" time where she felt like a misfit amongst her peers. However, it was during this time that the actress discovered her love for drama and was eventually spotted by a talent scout in New York City at 14.

Signed to a talent agency, Jennifer began her professional acting career in Los Angeles and was eventually cast in The Bill Engvall Show. However, the actress' big break came in 2010 when she starred Winter's Bone as Ree Dolly, an impoverish teen searching for her missing father. The role provided Jennifer with overwhelmingly positive reviews, helping her eventually secure work on franchises like X-Men and The Hunger Games.

Clearly, most know Jennifer because she portrayed Katniss Everdeen to massive fanfare. The actress became famous overnight, and The Hunger Games films have since made Jennifer the highest-grossing action heroine of all time.

Jennifer is also something of a critic's darling as her work in films like Silver Linings Playbook, American Hustle, and Joy have all brought her awards such as Golden Globes and Academy Awards. Currently, fans are anticipating Jennifer's upcoming film Passengers with co-star Chris Pratt which will be released this winter.

Passionate about women's rights and philanthropy, Jennifer is well-know for her charitable nature and often donates money to organizations such as Feeding America and the Special Olympics. The actress has even helped establish a cardiac intensive unit at a children's hospital in her hometown which was been named after Jennifer's to honor her contributions.

Happy birthday, Jennifer!