‘The Hunger Games’ character bios

Here are the main characters in “The Hunger Games” movie opening at midnight Thursday.

Katniss Everdeen (played by Jennifer Lawrence)

Katniss Everdeen is the 16-year-old protagonist and narrator of the story. Katniss is normally quiet in school and does not bother with gossip and social matters. She lives with her mother and younger sister, Primrose, in the poorest district of Panem, District 12, which is in charge of mining coal for the Capitol. Her looks are typical for someone from the Seam (the slums of District 12): long black hair, which she wears in a braid; olive skin; and gray eyes. Five years before Katniss became a tribute in The Hunger Games, her father was killed in a mining explosion, and her mother fell into a depression. In order to provide for her family, Katniss began to hunt in the woods, just as her father had taught her. In the process, she becomes hunting partners and friends with Gale Hawthorne.


Peeta Mellark (played by Josh Hutcherson)

Peeta Mellark is the male tribute from District 12. He is described as being medium height with a stocky build, having ashy blond hair that falls in waves over his forehead and blue eyes. He is the town baker's son and is talented in baking breads and icing cakes, which proves to be an unexpected asset to him in the arena, when he can camouflage himself effortlessly. His mother is a nasty woman, described as a "witch" by Katniss. He tells her  she has more faith in Katniss than in himself. He has two older brothers, neither of whom care for him as much as Katniss cares for her little sister, Prim. His father, Mr. Mellark, is the town baker.


Haymitch Abernathy (played by Woody Harrleson)

Haymitch Abernathy is a "paunchy, middle-aged man" who was the victor of the 50th Hunger Games. Back 24 years before the series begins, he became the victor for District 12, at the 50th Hunger Games. When he was 16, Haymitch was reaped for the second Quarter Quell, where four tributes from each district were forced into the arena. He became an ally to a girl named Maysilee Donner, who was the original owner of the mockingjay pin, but later was forced to watch her die. Katniss relates this to what happened between her and Rue.


Gale Hawthorne (played by Liam Hemsworth)

Gale is Katniss' best friend. They became close due to the loss of their fathers in a mine explosion, and a chance meeting when hunting illegally outside the fenced boundaries of District 12, their home. Like Katniss, Gale is the sole provider for his family of younger siblings, and mother. He has a deep rooted hate for the Captiol, the dominant force in Panem. Before the reaping that selects the tributes for the Hunger Games, he tells Katniss that they could run away together and live in the forests to escape the control of the Capitol, and the horror of the annual Hunger Games. He is described as having grey eyes, dark hair, olive skin and being similar in apperance to Katniss. 


Primrose Everdeen (played by Willow Shields)

Primrose, known as "Prim,'" is the younger sister of Katniss Everdeen, and is only twelve at the beginning of the series. Katniss once said that Prim was "the only person I'm certain I love and would do anything to protect", and when Prim is chosen as the tribute in the 74th Hunger Games, Katniss volunteers herself and steps up to take her place. She is a gentle character, loved by many in District 12, their home, and is very attached to her cat, Buttercup, and her goat which was a present from Katniss.


President Coriolanus Snow (played by Donald Sutherland)

The main antagonist of the series, President Snow is the autocratic ruler of the Capitol and all of Panem. Though seemingly laid-back, this hides a sadistic and psychopathic mind. He initially appears in "The Hunger Games" when he crowns Katniss and Peeta as victors, but he does not speak to Katniss face-to-face until Catching Fire, when he pays her a visit at home and tells her that he is angry that both she and Peeta were allowed to survive the Hunger Games, as their act of defiance (preferring joint suicide to the prospect of one killing the other) has ignited rebellion in several of the Districts. She is too prominent to kill, but he threatens her family and Gale unless she proves to the Districts that her act of saving Peeta was merely that of a love-crazed teenager and was not related to any desire to defy the Capitol.[8] Later, Snow indicates to her that she failed in this, meaning that some or all of his threats will come true. President Snow is described as having very puffy lips, which are most likely the result of an appearance-altering operation that is very popular in the Capitol.


Effie Trinket (played by Elizabeth Banks)

Effie escorts the tributes from District 12 to the capital for training and media interviews and then to the games. She's fashion-forward and likes wearing wigs, even bubble-gum pink ones. At first, she detests her job, doing her best to be promoted to a better, richer district. But as time goes by, Effie gets attached to her District 12 acquaintances.


Caesar Flickerman (played by Stanley Tucci)

Caesar Flickerman is the Captiol's favorite television host. As a very charismatic and rambunctious person he delights the Capitol by interviewing all of the tributes.


Seneca Crane (played by Wes Bentley)

Seneca Crane is the Head Gamemaker for the 74th Hunger Games.