International travel can be full of excitement and adventure, but even celebrities are not immune to the occasional travel mishap. Academy Award-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence revealed her worst travel memory during an appearance on The Graham Norton Show, and it involves an unfortunate encounter with customs and a stint in jail.
The Hollywood star recalled the incident, saying:
“It was auditioning for the first ‘X-Men,’ my passport was expiring under six months, which apparently you’re not supposed to travel, blah blah blah. So they were like, ‘Whatever you do, don’t tell them that you’re here for work because they’ll ask for a work visa. Say you’re here for pleasure,’ and I’m like, ‘Oh my good God, I have to lie to the customs officer.'”
The pressure was mounting as she stood in line, so the actress tried to come up with a convincing backstory to ensure her entry into the country. She continued:
“I’m working myself up so much through the line. I’m like, ‘Okay, I just have to have a backstory, I got a bag, and I have to believe it.’ So it gets there, and he was like, ‘Business or pleasure?’ and I was like, ‘Pleasure.’ ‘What are you doing for pleasure?’ ‘My brother’s getting married.'”
Lawrence further revealed the conversation between her and the officer, explaining:
“And he’s like, ‘Where’s he getting married?’ ‘Wimbledon.’ ‘Is he American?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Do you have an invitation?’ ‘No.’ ‘Are you telling the truth?’ ‘No, I don’t have a work visa, and my passport expires, and I’m not even supposed to be here.’ I had to sit in a tiny little jail for like five hours. When they called my employer, I felt tiny.”
The actress recently starred in the movie, ‘No Hard Feelings,’ which was released last month. In the film, she takes on the role of a 32-year-old Uber driver who responds to an ad, agreeing to go on a date with a timid 19-year-old.
You can listen to her travel story in her own words below.