Maya Hawke credits Jennifer Lawrence’s performance in The Hunger Games for inspiring her to pursue acting, making her casting in the latest film a full-circle moment.

The 28-year-old actress will portray a younger version of Wiress in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, the upcoming prequel based on Suzanne Collins’ bestselling novels.

In a recent interview, Hawke reflected on the impact the original Hunger Games films had on her career ambitions.

“I credit the original Hunger Games movie a lot with inspiring me to want to be an actor, honestly,” she told People.

Hawke gushed over Lawrence’s portrayal of Katniss Everdeen, calling it a standout performance despite the scale of the blockbuster franchise.

“It’s so hard to give a good performance in a big action movie, because so many pieces in the machine are usually working against the capacity to give a good performance,” she explained.

“In those movies, she gave a performance so singularly excellent and weird, and she painted a true individual that was not at all neutralised by the genre.”

The upcoming film is the second prequel in the franchise after The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and is scheduled to arrive in cinemas on 20 November.

Hawke, who has also played Robin Buckley in Netflix’s Stranger Things, said her role in the film may be small but it carries special meaning.

“My part is very small, but I’m excited. I love my character. I am so excited to get to see the movie and to be a fan,” she said.

“I hope I’m not the outcast who didn’t get it.”