Jennifer Lawrence received the Oscar for Best Actress for her work in Silver Linings Playbook at the 85th Academy Awards in Los Angeles.

Lawrence, who was up for an Academy Award with Jessica Chastain, plays an outspoken young widow in this offbeat comedy about a bipolar man and his chaotic family.

At the Golden Globes and the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards, Lawrence and Chastain initially shared a number of acting awards, with Chastain winning in the drama category and Lawrence winning in the comedy or musical category. However, when the two faced off at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, with Lawrence winning, making her the presumptive Oscar favourite.

After falling on her way up the steps to the platform where she collected the award, she said, “You guys are just standing up because you feel bad that I fell down,” in response to the standing ovation.

“But,” she said, holding the figurine, “thank you.” “This is nuts.”

When asked backstage what was on her mind when she slipped and fell on her hands, Lawrence said, “A bad word that starts with ‘F’ that I can’t say.”

Lawrence’s first Oscar victory and second nomination come at the age of 22.

Lawrence starred alongside Bradley Cooper in David O Russell’s romantic comedy Silver Linings Playbook as a struggling wanna be dancer.

The role demonstrated the young actress’ flexibility, as she has been in films ranging from indie dramas to big-budget action films like “X-Men: First Class” and “The Hunger Games,” in which she portrays Katniss Everdeen.

Lawrence was first thought to be too young to play the feisty widow by the producers of “Silver Linings Playbook” but she struck up an appealing relationship with Cooper’s character, Patrick.

“Silver Linings Playbook” a low-budget picture, has grossed $159.7 million globally, whereas Suzanne Collins’ film adaption of “The Hunger Games” has grossed almost $700 million in cinemas.

Her victory came two years after her breakout performance in “Winter’s Bone.”

Lawrence was born in Louisville, Kentucky, and began her acting career when she was 14 years old, with minor appearances in films, television shows, and commercials.

She previously told TheWrap that acting came naturally to her, since she began doing it at an early age. “I understand it,” she said. “And that’s good, because it’s pretty much the only thing in the entire world that I do understand.”