Fast five with Willow Shields
Willow Shields bids farewell to The Hunger Games and talks about the impact of Jennifer Lawrence
FACT FILE
Name: Willow Shields
Born: June 1, 2000, New Mexico, US
Filmography:
The Hunger Games (2012), The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013),
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 (2014), The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 (2015)
1 TEAM KATNISS
Willow Shields broke out as Primrose Everdeen in the first Hunger Games movie in 2012 as the little girl who sets the entire franchise in motion. After all, it is Prim's initial reaping for the 74th Hunger Games that caused elder sister Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) to volunteer to take her place.
She reprises her role in the final instalment, Mockingjay - Part 2, now showing in cinemas, and declares she is "Team Katniss for life". The 15-year-old told MTV: "I think Katniss has been an incredible role model for young girls... She's changed a bit of the way that people think about strong women characters in film."
2 REALITY BITES
Shields appreciated that The Hunger Games author Suzanne Collins wrote about Prim maturing and becoming Katniss' pillar of strength in the books. However, it took her a while to understand Prim's demise at the end of the series.
"When I was 10, it was shocking," she told Teen Vogue about Mockingjay. "Who does that to a kid in a book or movie? As I got older, I respected Suzanne Collins' choices more. She knew that Prim's fate would show how horrible war could be. No one is safe."
3 SUPER SISTER
The bond she forged with Lawrence, 25, over the years is something that Shields cherishes.
She told Teen Vogue: "Jennifer is a friend and a mentor. She is someone I hope to be like as I get older. She handles herself so well and has not let fame change her in any way."
She told Socialite Life that Lawrence had advised her "to always be who I am and not (change) because of Hollywood".
4 MAD ABOUT MOORE
For someone who was surrounded by Hollywood legends such as Donald Sutherland and Philip Seymour Hoffman, Shields was never affected by their presence.
"I was 10 in the first film, so I didn't know the difference between who was a huge movie star and who wasn't," she told ASOS.
She said the only person she was "excited and slightly intimidated to meet" was Julianne Moore, who plays President Alma Coin of District 13.
5 FAREWELL FEELINGS
Shields, who is working on indie fantasy The Wonder, which is being shot in China and New Zealand, told Teen Vogue that saying goodbye to her Hunger Games family was "bittersweet".
"Everyone is proud of the final film but it's sad to say goodbye - to each other, to the characters and to the fans."
She added: "On my last day, Jen came in my trailer and gave me a sweet gift and we just hung out for a little while. It was hard because it was my last day on set and my last shot as Prim. It was all very emotional."
STRONG SUPPORT
OTHER SUPPORTING CAST MEMBERS FROM YOUNG ADULT MOVIE SERIES WHO CAUGHT OUR ATTENTION
ANSEL ELGORT
Divergent (2014)
MATTHEW LEWIS
Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)
ASHLEY GREENE
Twilight (2008)
BEN BARNES
The Chronicles Of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008)
KI HONG LEE
The Maze Runner (2014)
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