I got to meet [Hunger Games author] Suzanne Collins
at the first meeting, which was very exciting and
nerve-wracking at the same time. But I had a great
read-through, and then came back to do a test
screening a few weeks later. I also hit it off with Jen—
the chemistry between the two of us really worked. A
couple of weeks went by where I couldn’t say a single
word about it … then I got the call. It still didn’t even hit
me, until I walked on set for the first day.

And while I was reading the books, my mind was being
blown as to how much I felt like I was like Peeta, and how I
felt like I could relate. I’ve never really felt more right for a
character in my whole life. That, in a way, is kind of even
more scary, because if you don’t get hired, it’s like, Oh my
God, what am I? What am I doing? What’s wrong?

It’s so crazy. When I read the books, I had never read
a character that was more like who I am as a person and
had kind of my core values and what I believe in. So it kind
of drove me crazy in a way, because I felt like I was so right
for it, then I had to go through this crazy audition process.
So to finally be making the movie and now we’re finished,
it’s like, somebody please pinch me, because I still don’t
believe this is actually happening. For me, it’s just an honor
to be a part of such a great story.

I never read a character I related to more, honestly.
He has this idea that no matter what situation you’re
in and where you are, you have to stay true to yourself
and the values you stand by. That’s pretty much the
moral I live my life by.

[Playing Peeta] means the world to me! I
wanted this role so badly. I think I hadn’t read a script
or book that I connected more with that I did with Peeta.
I had never read a character that was more like who I am
as a person and had kind of my core values and what I believe
in. It was crazy! So for me, it was it was a do or die situation,
almost. I never felt that I was more right for a role in my life.
It was kind of like if I didn’t get it, I didn’t know how I would
react … so it’s just very good that I did get it.

I said out loud that if I didn’t get that role, I didn’t know what
I was gonna do. I had no idea. I was gonna keep acting but
I never read a role that I connected with as much and that I felt
like I was more right for in my life, so if I didn’t get it then I was
like “Well, am I just a bad actor then?” Because Peeta is so much
who I am how can I not play myself?

Mentally it was tough because I’d never connected with a
character more than I did with Peeta. I felt he was so much
like who I am as a person that I was like, “If I dont get it,
I won’t understand.” It drove me crazy.

Oh, God, this is going to sound so stupid: Me, because
I have literally never read a character, book or script or anything
that has a character in it I connected with more than Peeta.
I feel like so much of who I am is Peeta. It drove me crazy during
the audition process, because I was like, “This is so me, it hurts.
If I don’t get this, I’m not even good at being me, so now
what am I? I have no idea what to do next.”

My character Peeta is the bomb, I love him.