Jennifer Lawrence is compared to Jesus Christ and called a genius by Hunger Games co-star Donald Sutherland

She has fallen over in public more than a few times and is apparently not ashamed of a bit of garlic breath, but these refreshingly ordinary human qualities haven't stopped Jennifer Lawrence's co-star Donald Sutherland comparing her to figures of epic historical proportions.

Sutherland, who plays President Snow in the Hunger Games series, gushed to E!Online that Lawrence is nothing short of a genius and an actor of such significance she can be compared to Jesus Christ or Joan of Arc, both of whom were executed for their causes.

"When I worked with her, I realised the child was a genius," said Sutherland. 

"She's the right person at the right time in the sense of Joan of Arc and Jesus Christ, any genius, in that sense."

Sutherland was speaking on the red carpet at the premiere of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1, which releases to theatres on November 21.

He continued: "She has the ability as an actor to tell the truth out of the material and that truth is immediately recognisable with everybody because it hits you in your heart, your solar plexus and your mind.

"And she has the genius of person to be not affected by all of this. She's just a real girl."

That realness was laid bare this week by fellow Mockingjay star and good friend Liam Hemsworth, who said whenever they had a kissing scene to shoot, Lawrence would make a point of eating garlic, tuna fish or something else disgusting.

"Right before the scene she'd be like, 'Yeah, I ate tuna,' or 'I had garlic, and I didn't brush my teeth.'  And I'd be like, 'Fantastic, I can't wait to get in there and taste it!" he told Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show. 

News
Campaign aims to mobilise 500,000 Christians for Christmas outreach
Campaign aims to mobilise 500,000 Christians for Christmas outreach

Shine Your Light is aiming to mobilise half a million Christians to share the gospel with five million people across the UK this Christmas, with more than 2,000 churches already signed up, organisers say.

The Church of England should repent for previous calls to ban 'conversion therapy'
The Church of England should repent for previous calls to ban 'conversion therapy'

The Church of England's uneasiness about the government's ‘conversion practices’ bill is a perfect lesson in the old adage, 'be careful what you wish for,' writes Dr Martin Davie.

Leaked Home Office report links 'Christian extremism' to traditionalist beliefs and immigration concerns
Leaked Home Office report links 'Christian extremism' to traditionalist beliefs and immigration concerns

An internal Home Office report lists concerns about immigration, multiculturalism and changing social values among the characteristics associated with what it calls "Christian extremism", it has been reported.

Tearfund calls for COP31 funding to reach farmers struggling with climate change and food insecurity
Tearfund calls for COP31 funding to reach farmers struggling with climate change and food insecurity

Tearfund warns that worsening climate conditions are threatening food production and pushing more people towards hunger.