This year’s conversation about #OscarsSoWhite actually hijacked an annual conversation that Hollywood has internally, which is “why can’t the big movie stars get nominated?” While Leonardo DiCaprio is a big movie star, the majority of the acting nominees are not household names (in households that don’t read gossip blogs daily, like all of you!). Brie Larson is not a household name. Neither is Alicia Vikander, Saoirse Ronan, Mark Rylance or Rooney Mara. It’s the same every year – there are usually a few recognizable, big-name celebrities and then the rest of the positions are filled by indie actors, actors that really aren’t big-name movie stars who can carry a movie. Besides Leo and Matt Damon, there’s one other notable exception this year: Jennifer Lawrence. J-Law has become America’s Sweetheart in such a short time, it’s really surprising. She’s the Sandy Bullock/Julia Roberts of the new generation. And this year, J-Law gets another title: the highest paid Oscar nominee!

This Sunday’s Academy Awards have already disappointed many by overlooking the likes of Will Smith and Idris Elba in the Best Actor categories. One star who will be shining: 25-year-old Jennifer Lawrence, who earned her fourth Oscar nomination for Joy to become the youngest person to notch as many nods. Lawrence was recognized this year for her turn as Miracle Mop entrepreneur Joy Mangano in the David O. Russell-directed dramedy, which split critics. In the Best Actress category, she is up against Cate Blanchett (Carol), Charlotte Rampling (45 Years) and FORBES’ 30 Under 30 honorees Saoirse Ronan (Brooklyn) and Brie Larson (Room).

Unlike her fellow nominees, however, Jennifer Lawrence also managed to top our list of Highest-Paid Actresses. She earned an estimated $52 million pretax between June 2014 and June 2015–the scoring period for our most recent ranking–thanks to paychecks from the Hunger Games trilogy, upfront compensation for Joy and a lucrative Dior contract.

Lawrence, who made more than Vin Diesel and Bradley Cooper in the same time frame, was bested only by Robert Downey Jr. Iron Man banked $80 million pretax thanks largely to his disproportionately favorable paydays in Marvel movies like Avengers: Age of Ultron. But Downey, who has Oscar nominations for Tropic Thunder and Chaplin to his name, is not in the running for an Academy Award this year. That makes Lawrence a very rare combination: A highly bankable star who is also a favorite with critics.

[From Forbes]

I think it’s cool that this year, the most money-making nominee is a woman under the age of 25. Represent, J-Law! There really isn’t anyone else doing it J-Law-style these days, male or female, in this age bracket. I think Emma Stone is possibly a contender, but Emma is the centerpiece of two major franchises like J-Law (although Emma tried with Spider-Man). Now, all that being said, even Forbes notes that “given Hollywood’s cyclical popularity stakes, to prevent the backlash inevitable when a public figure has been too liked and too prominent for too long, it may be best for Lawrence if this year’s Oscar goes to a newcomer.” Yes. And as we’ve seen, J-Law isn’t campaigning this year, which is good. All she really has to worry about is not picking an awful Dior gown and not falling down for the millionth time.

Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet and WENN.