Even Oscar winners battle self-doubt. For Jennifer Lawrence, that doubt manifests as what she calls “crippling impostor syndrome” — the fear that she doesn’t belong, even after years of acclaim. But thanks to an unlikely mantra borrowed from one of Hollywood’s most respected performers, Viola Davis, Lawrence has developed a ritual that helps her silence that inner critic before the cameras roll.
Her secret weapon? A five-word affirmation:
“The Queen is in the building.”
The Origin: A Lesson from Viola Davis
The ritual’s origin traces back to a conversation between the two award-winning actresses during a Variety “Actors on Actors” interview. Lawrence, known for her candidness, admitted that despite her fame and experience, she still struggled with anxiety and self-doubt before emotionally demanding or physically vulnerable scenes.
She shared that she had adopted a mantra inspired by Viola Davis — whom she’s long called one of her greatest idols. Davis once described using affirmations as a way to command focus and confidence before major performances, reframing the moment as an act of presence and power rather than fear.
Lawrence, fascinated by the concept, made it her own.
The Ritual: Repetition as Empowerment
Before any scene that demands deep vulnerability or emotional exposure, Lawrence now takes a quiet moment to herself — no phone, no distractions — and repeats the phrase “The Queen is in the building” exactly 12 times.
The repetition, she says, isn’t random. It’s deliberate and rhythmic — almost meditative — helping her transition from personal insecurity to creative control.
“When I say it, I stop being Jennifer,” she reportedly told colleagues. “It’s not about ego — it’s about stepping into the strength of the person I’m playing.”
The affirmation, she explains, reminds her that she has earned her place on set and that the energy she brings to the moment matters.
The Psychology Behind the Phrase
While the ritual may sound eccentric, psychologists say such affirmations can be powerful tools for performers. Repetition and self-directed language can help rewire the brain’s stress response, turning moments of anxiety into confidence cues.
For Lawrence, the mantra serves three key functions:
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Countering Impostor Syndrome:
By affirming her worth, Lawrence disrupts the self-doubt loop that often accompanies success in high-pressure creative fields. -
Creating a Character Mindset:
“The Queen” becomes a metaphor — not for vanity, but for mastery. It allows her to embody a state of command and purpose before stepping into a scene. -
Drawing Strength from Viola Davis:
Invoking a mantra inspired by Davis connects Lawrence to a lineage of resilience and artistry. It’s an homage to one of her heroes, and a way to borrow her confidence when she needs it most.
From One Queen to Another
Viola Davis, an EGOT-winning powerhouse whose career spans decades of barrier-breaking roles, has long championed the importance of self-affirmation in an industry that often undermines individuality. Lawrence’s adoption of Davis’s practice shows how such simple tools can transcend generations and genres — from drama to comedy, from established legend to millennial star.
Their shared belief: that confidence is not innate, but cultivated.
A Ritual of Resilience
In an age when celebrity culture often celebrates perfection, Lawrence’s openness about her insecurities — and her unconventional way of managing them — feels refreshingly human.
“The Queen is in the building” is more than a catchphrase. It’s a declaration of presence, a reclamation of agency, and a reminder that even the most successful artists must sometimes remind themselves that they belong.
And if Viola Davis’s mantra can calm Jennifer Lawrence before a challenging performance, it might just be the affirmation the rest of us didn’t know we needed, too.