From billion-dollar superhero flicks to award-winning independent dramas, Brie Larson is one of the most talented actresses in the business.
At just 31 years old, Brie Larson is already halfway to an EGOT (that’s an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony). The actress just needs a Tony and Grammy to complete the “grand slam” of show business and, as you’ll see below when we cover her Scott Pilgrim vs. the World performance, she deserves a Grammy ASAP.
So kick your feet up and relax because we’re about to take you on the wonderful journey that is all things Brie Larson.
Brie Larson always wanted to be in show biz
Since she was six years old Brie Larson knew she was destined to be an actress on the big screen. In an interview with Glamour back in 2014, Brie Larson recalled the moment she told her mom about her aspirations, saying, “I was six years old, and my mom was doing the dishes, and I said, ‘I want to be an actor.’ She thought that was the most confusing thing, like I was just repeating something I heard on the TV or a kid said at school. But I was relentless about it.”
However, acting wasn’t her only dream. In the same interview, Brie Larson shared that she also “wanted to be an animator and even drew a 300-page storyboard of The Lion King.”
10 fun facts you must know about Brie Larson
Brie Larson’s career is filled with so many interesting tidbits of fun facts so we decided to rapid-fire them off for you.
- Brie Larson had a career as a teen pop star in the mid-2000s. Her sole album, Finally Out of P.E. features writing credits from Avril Lavigne.
- She was the youngest student ever admitted to the American Conservatory Theater’s training program.
- She got her start acting in a series of skits on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
- However, her first film role was in 13 Going on 30.
- Brie Larson’s birth name is Brianne Sidonie Desaulniers. She changed her last name because of how difficult it is for others to pronounce and she shortened her first name because she was only called Brianne when she was in trouble.
- She is one of the founding members of the Time’s Up initiative.
- She was one of the first actors to include an equity rider in her contracts.
- Brie Larson started her own YouTube channel last year and has been posting regularly ever since!
- She ate a rhino beetle and had a terrifying encounter with a tarantula on Running Wild with Bear Grylls.
- And she was even a guest host on Jimmy Kimmel Live! back in 2019.
Brie Larson Movies: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)
Although her music career didn’t exactly pan out, Brie Larson blew us away with her performance as pop sensation Natalie “Envy” Adams in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. She stars as Scott Pilgrim’s famous ex-girlfriend and frontwoman of the fictional band The Clash at Demonhead in Edgar Wright’s 2010 cult classic.
While her role in the film is pretty minor, Brie Larson’s vocals on “Black Sheep” should’ve earned her a Grammy nomination for Best Song Written for Visual Media. Check it out below!
Where to watch Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: Netflix
Brie Larson Movies: 21 Jump Street (2012)
Brie Larson continued her action-comedy performances with 2012’s 21 Jump Street. The actress starred alongside Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, and more in this film adaptation of the TV series of the same name.
Brie Larson plays Molly, a high school classmate of Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) who eventually becomes Schmidt’s love interest. Despite her well-received performance in 21 Jump Street, producers had to cut her cameo from the sequel, 22 Jump Street.
Where to watch 21 Jump Street: Buy or rent on Amazon
Brie Larson Movies: The Spectacular Now (2013)
After the success of 21 Jump Street Brie Larson shifted toward a string of independent films. In 2013 she played Cassidy Roy in the film adaptation of The Spectacular Now. The film marked the second time in her young career that she would co-star alongside Mary Elizabeth Winstead. Miles Teller, Shailene Woodley, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Kyle Chandler, and Bob Odenkirk also star.
Despite a relatively low box office return, The Spectacular Now received widespread critical acclaim. The film won awards at Sundance and has been compared to Say Anything… and Perks of Being a Wallflower.
Where to watch The Spectacular Now: Showtime
Brie Larson Movies: Short Term 12 (2013)
One of the most career-shifting moments in Brie Larson’s filmography came in Short Term 12. Brie Larson won the role of Grace, a supervisor at a foster home for at-risk children, through a Skype audition.
Although the film surprisingly was shut out of the Oscars, Short Term 12 showed industry insiders that Brie Larson had the range to pull off any role and proved to be the actress’ breakout performance.
Where to watch Short Term 12: Amazon
Brie Larson Movies: Digging for Fire (2015)
Brie Larson starred alongside Jake Johnson, Rosemarie DeWitt, Sam Rockwell, Anna Kendrick and Orlando Bloom in the Joe Swanberg directed ensemble film Digging for Fire.
The film, which was written by Joe Swanberg and Jake Johnson, didn’t even have a script. In typical Joe Swanberg fashion, the actors were only given an outline of what the scenes would be. With no dialogue written, the entire cast had to improvise the entire film!
Despite there being no formal script, Brie Larson had a ton of impact on the shape of her character’s arc. Initially, her character, Max, was supposed to have a “will-they-won’t-they” with Tim (Jake Johnson). However, after speaking with Joe Swanberg and Jake Johnson, she was able to convince the co-writers that her character wouldn’t go for a married father, which Jake Johnson told Vulture, “spun [the] second act in a whole new direction.”
Where to watch Digging For Fire: Hulu
Brie Larson Movies: Trainwreck (2015)
Amy Schumer’s Trainwreck marked Brie Larson’s return to major studio comedies. The film was a box office smash and received overwhelmingly positive reviews from both fans and critics.
Trainwreck was heavily influenced by Amy Schumer’s real-life with Brie Larson playing Amy Schumer’s real-life sister, Kim. Luckily, to prep for the role, Brie Larson was able to pick both Amy Schumer and her sister Kim Caramele’s brains. However, during a climactic fight scene, producers had to send the real Kim away from set so the two actresses could really get into the scene.
Speaking of this experience with Variety, Brie Larson said, “They both told me things separately not to tell the other that were sort of the basis of that fight. There were a couple of things (that) Kim was like, ‘If you need to use them, these are keys that will annihilate her.’ That day in particular felt the most like we were re-creating scenes from their life. It became kind of a therapeutic performance for them. It was an intense, emotional day.”
Where to watch Trainwreck: Buy or rent on Amazon
Brie Larson Movies: Room (2015)
Brie Larson received worldwide acclaim when she portrayed Joy “Ma” Newsome in 2015’s Room. The film, written by Emma Donoghue is an adaptation of her own novel, tripling its budget at the box office.
Additionally, Room was nominated for four Academy Awards at the 88th Oscars. However, the shining moment of the night was when Brie Larson took home the award for Best Actress for her performance in Room.
Brie Larson expanded on the range she displayed in Short Term 12, with THR noting, “real credit is due to the lead actors, with Brie expanding beyond the already considerable range she’s previously shown with an exceedingly dimensional performance in a role that calls for running the gamut.”
Where to watch Room: Showtime
Brie Larson Movies: Kong: Skull Island (2017)
Hot off commercial and critical acclaim Brie Larson gave us our first taste of what it is like seeing her in a massive blockbuster franchise. During the mid-2010s Legendary Pictures launched a brand new cinematic universe titled the MonsterVerse. After Godzilla was released in 2014, it was time to reboot King Kong.
Brie Larson starred as investigative journalist Mason Weaver in 2017’s Kong: Skull Island. The film’s ensemble cast is filled with Brie Larson’s future MCU co-stars, Tom Hiddleston and Samuel L. Jackson.
Where to watch Kong: Skull Island: HBO Max
Brie Larson Movies: Unicorn Store (2017)
The actress hopped in the director’s chair for the first time in her career with Unicorn Store. In addition to directing and producing the film, Brie Larson also starred as the main character, Kit. The film received mostly positive reviews with the Rotten Tomatoes consensus stating, “Brie Larson has a future behind the camera.”
The film also marks the second collaboration between Brie Larson and Samuel L. Jackson.
Where to watch Unicorn Store: Netflix
Brie Larson Movies: Captain Marvel (2019)
Third time’s a charm! Brie Larson and now best friend Samuel L. Jackson reunited once more in 2019’s Captain Marvel. The film made history when it became Marvel Studios’ first female-led superhero film. Additionally, Captain Marvel etched itself into history once more by having the sixth-highest opening weekend of all time.
Brie Larson plays the titular Captain Marvel in a film that is filled with 90s nostalgia. Throughout the film, Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel is on a journey of self-discovery after her memory had been wiped six years earlier. Once she is able to find out who she truly is and where she came from, Captain Marvel is able to reach her fullest potential, just in time for…
Where to watch Captain Marvel: Disney+
Brie Larson Movies: Avengers: Endgame (2019)
The biggest blockbuster of all time (oh wait… Avatar had that re-release), the second biggest blockbuster of all time! Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel is summoned back to Earth to save the day in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame.
In the years since Captain Marvel’s events, Carol Danvers has been protecting thousands of plants across thousands of galaxies. However, once Thanos wipes out half of the population, Carol must return to her home planet to help out Earth’s mightiest heroes.
Where to watch Avengers: Endgame: Disney+
Brie Larson Movies: Just Mercy (2019)
Brie Larson continued to pump out great movies in 2019 with Just Mercy hitting theaters on Christmas day. The film saw the actress reunite with Short Term 12 director Destin Daniel Cretton for the role of Eva Ansley, one of the founders of the Equal Justice Initiative.
Brie Larson co-stars alongside Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx, the latter of whom received a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Where to watch Just Mercy: Buy or rent on Amazon
Upcoming Brie Larson Movies: The Marvels (2022)
Brie Larson will return as Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel in the upcoming sequel, The Marvels. While The Marvels’ plot is still under wraps, we do know that the film will be a continuation of the 2021 Disney+ series Ms. Marvel.
Ms. Marvel will introduce Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani), a teenage girl who writes Captain Marvel fanfiction before gaining shape-shifting powers. Despite no official casting, Brie Larson may still cameo in some fashion given the context of the Disney+ show.
However, MCU president Kevin Feige confirmed that Brie Larson and Iman Vellani will for sure share the screen together in The Marvels. The upcoming superhero film will also see WandaVision standout and fan favorite Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) make her theatrical MCU debut.
The Marvels is set to hit movie theaters on November 11, 2022.
Brie Larson is one of the most relatable celebrities on Twitter
Brie Larson kills it on the big screen and on Twitter. Here are some of the actress’s most relatable tweets!
Admit it, we’ve all just been lounging in sweatpants for over a year.
Tell me you’ve been in quarantine for a year without TELLING me you’ve been in quarantine for a year. pic.twitter.com/3kK6vnssBE
— Brie Larson (@brielarson) March 30, 2021
When she absolutely killed this Emmys from home look.
Emmys at home. Styled by me. HMU by me. pic.twitter.com/4x17eL3Sj7
— Brie Larson (@brielarson) September 18, 2020
There’s nothing better than Perrier and pizza!
https://t.co/U9PK1ZSfSu pic.twitter.com/hBzuagyZ06
— Brie Larson (@brielarson) July 14, 2020
When she was just as hyped as us for Wonder Woman 1984.
SIRI – HOW CAN I TIME TRAVEL TO JUNE 5TH 2020 https://t.co/PUQ3DKK6ee
— Brie Larson (@brielarson) December 10, 2019
The Animal Crossing quarantine craze took EVERYONE.
I change my clothes more frequently in Animal Crossing than in real life.
— Brie Larson (@brielarson) April 16, 2020
Who wasn’t stoked that Taika Waititi won an Oscar?
Academy Award Winner @TaikaWaititi ? pic.twitter.com/PpZl1PhX8y
— Brie Larson (@brielarson) February 10, 2020
Amen.
Take time. Breathe. Remember to be kind and gentle to yourself, and others. Everyone has a story and whether they choose to share that is entirely their prerogative. pic.twitter.com/NpudWmL9Jc
— Brie Larson (@brielarson) May 5, 2021
Brie Larson fans are so genuine on Twitter
In addition to having some of the most relatable tweets, Brie Larson also has some of the most genuine and supportive fans.
We’re gonna have to agree. “Black Sheep” is ICONIC.
my mind will be blank and then BOOM brie larson singing ‘black sheep’ in scott pilgrim
— rachel zegler (she/her/hers) (@rachelzegler) May 20, 2021
Can we all just admire this wholesome interaction??
in brie larson’s pov, this is just so cute?? even if it just a little interaction pic.twitter.com/XTaTxZVhKH
— B. ? (@sproutsyk) May 22, 2021
Brie Larson was serving looks at the Captain Marvel premieres.
BRIE LARSON AT THE CAPTAIN MARVEL MOVIE PREMIERE POST APPRECIATION❤️? pic.twitter.com/Vp06rKWLf7
— madu (@batmansdanvers) May 27, 2021
can we all agree that brie larson at premiers pic.twitter.com/trVekPJZSE
— Iron Heart ⎊ (@StarksGrayson) May 25, 2021
Fans are also reminiscing on Brie Larson’s past music career.
A casual reminder about the status of Brie Larson’s career in the early 2010’s.
This is her DJing a launch party for a magazine cover…featuring Lea Michele. pic.twitter.com/wH50rSG9pM
— BrieNN (@BrieNN365) May 27, 2021
After a deep dive into the life and career of Brie Larson, I think it’s safe to say she is one of the most talented and rootable celebrities in the industry. Now, please excuse me while I rewatch all her movies and stream “Black Sheep” a million times.
More Entertainment News Like This: Yara Shahidi’s Movies and TV Shows Are Making Their Mark On Hollywood
Hollywood.com is a place where entertainment news actually entertains you. We’re sharing the good in Hollywood, spotlighting the feel-good stories that matter about any and every kind of celeb. Be a part of the good in Hollywood in your very own neighborhood with our movie ticketing app (coming soon!) that gives you a whole new way to buy movie tickets. Compare movie showtimes, movie theaters, and seats near you in seconds. Follow us on Instagram for more feel-good celeb stories.
