Jennifer Lawrence explains Oscar fall

Jennifer Lawrence falls at the Oscars. Photo/AP

Jennifer Lawrence says a combination of waxed stairs and the flowing fabric of her dress caused her to fall while heading up to collect an Oscar for best actress.

The Silver Linings Playbook star was left flustered after tripping up on her Dior Haute Couture gown when walking up the stairs to collect her gold statuette.

When asked what happened when she fell, the screen beauty quipped: "What do you mean what happened? Look at my dress. I tried to walk up stairs in this dress. That's what happened. I don't actually ... I think I just stepped on the fabric and they waxed the stairs."

She then added: "What went through my mind when I fell down? A bad word that I can't say that starts with 'f'."

Lawrence said her preparation for the Oscars was "chaotic".

The 22-year-old star admits it was a stressful experience getting ready for the red carpet.

Speaking backstage at the Dolby Theatre, Jennifer said: "The process today was so stressful. I felt like Steve Martin in Father of the Bride watching my house just be torn apart, and my whole family was getting ready ... I mean, my friends stopped by. It was kind of fun, but it was mostly chaotic, yeah.

Watch: Jennifer Lawrence walks the red carpet at the Oscars.

"I just woke up and tried on a dress, and it fit, thank God, and then I took a shower and ... I don't know what I was that's what I did. And then I got my hair and make-up done, and then I came to the Oscars."

In 1991 film Father of the Bride, Steve Martin's character George Banks' house is taken over by wedding planners for his daughter's marriage leaving him a nervous wreck.

- Bang! Showbiz