( CNN ) -- When it comes to on-screen chemistry , `` Hunger Games '' co-stars Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson are naturals . `` We 're great together , '' Lawrence , 23 , told CNN in a recent interview . `` We can really kiss . '' To be sure , the two have had plenty of practice . As `` Hunger Games '' characters Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark , Lawrence and Hutcherson are asked to do some lip-locking on camera in both 2012 's `` The Hunger Games '' and its November 22 follow-up , `` Catching Fire . '' If you 're not familiar with the book trilogy from Suzanne Collins that the movies are based on , know that part of the central plot revolves around Katniss and Peeta 's relationship -- it 's mostly a survival strategy as the two impoverished District 12 citizens are sent to fight to the death in the sadistic Hunger Games , but there 's also an undercurrent of something more . There 's the additional complication of Katniss ' relationship with childhood friend Gale Hawthorne ( Liam Hemsworth ) , who 's a likely lover as well . So as Katniss , Lawrence is n't wanting for love scenes . Yet in her typical casual manner , the Oscar-winning actress can shrug it off . `` You just kiss , '' she said to CNN , admitting , `` I 've had a couple bad ones . '' Hutcherson , though , is n't disappointing , although the 21-year-old actor is n't quite as experienced as his counterpart . `` I have n't had any bad ones , '' Hutcherson said , telling Lawrence , `` You 're my first real big kiss in a movie . '' `` Really ? '' Lawrence responded . `` Oh my God , was I gentle ? '' To be frank , `` no , '' Hutcherson replied . `` It was a little abrasive , if I 'm being honest . A little shocking . '' `` It was very slobbery , '' Lawrence agreed . That sort of honest , spontaneous exchange is what makes the duo , but especially Lawrence , so in demand . Just three years ago , Lawrence was best known for an indie film called `` Winter 's Bone , '' which earned the actress her first Oscar nomination . But then came an onslaught of films that permanently changed the tide , as Lawrence starred in one high-profile project after another : 2011 's `` The Beaver '' and `` X-Men : First Class , '' `` The Hunger Games , '' and 2012 's acclaimed `` Silver Linings Playbook , '' which earned the young star an Oscar . Born in Kentucky with two older brothers , Lawrence presents herself with an unguarded irreverence that both Hollywood and the public eat up with spoons . Even as she transformed into one of the biggest stars in the industry , Lawrence remains grounded and outspoken in her interviews , seemingly unaware of her celebrity status . When she won the best actress Oscar for `` Silver Linings Playbook , '' nothing changed on set , Hutcherson told CNN . `` I do n't even think we had a conversation about it , '' Lawrence said . `` You guys were like , 'Congratulations , that 's great . ' And then it was like , 'Cool . ' Then we started talking about farts . '' And yet , as the public face of a franchise that has thus far made $ 691 million worldwide , Lawrence is n't completely oblivious to her new place in the world . When the first `` Hunger Games '' movie came out , the actress tried to stop by Whole Foods , and was quickly reminded of just how famous she 's become . `` Literally the day the movie was released , I had no idea I was famous yet or that anybody had seen the movie , '' she said . `` I do n't think actually I knew the movie came out that day . '' Whole Foods `` had to call the police and I had to go down the cargo elevator and I was crying . And I saw my ex-boyfriend there and he 's like , 'How 's your life ? ' And I was like , 'Really bad . ' It was the worst . '' Her popularity began to make her nervous about appearing in public , and she would skirt dinner plans to avoid the inevitable requests for a photograph . But she 's learned that one has to face fame the way you would face anything else . `` Sometimes I 'm nice , sometimes I 'm in a bad mood , '' Lawrence said . `` Like if I 'm at dinner and I 'm eating and somebody wants me to stand up and take a picture -- that 's actually helped with my anxiety , knowing that I do n't have to say yes and I can say no . ... It is hard because you do n't want to feel rude , but at the same time , I have to defend my life and my mental wellness . '' CNN 's Nischelle Turner contributed to this report .
Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson co - star in ` ` The Hunger Games '' ' . Hutcherson says Lawrence was his first ' real big kiss ' in a film . He says Lawrence was pretty abrasive . She says that it was ' very . '