Jennifer Lawrence says that first and foremost, she watches her latest film, "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire," as a fan. She was "stunned" when she saw the end result.

"To me it's like a big historical epic mixed with action, special effects, sci-fi, fantasy ... the whole mix," she tells The Japan Times. "It's beautiful to look at — but it's also like a nightmare, only you can't keep from watching it. It's just incredible."

Lawrence is fast becoming known as much for her enthusiastic personality as her abilities as an actress. The 23-year-old, born in Louisville, Kentucky, took home the Oscar for best actress at last year's Academy Awards ceremony for "Silver Linings Playbook." And her performances in the "Hunger Games" and "X-Men" franchises have earned her a spot on Hollywood's A List. According to Forbes magazine, she's the highest-paid actress under 30, earning $10 million for this "Hunger Games" sequel.