Since bursting onto the Hollywood scene roughly 10 years ago, Brie Larson has taken the town by storm! From roles displaying strength through frailty to taking names as a superhero, this talented star is one to watch. Let’s learn more with our Hollywood Spotlight. (Image credit: John Shearer/Getty Images, eonline.com)
Musical Talents
Before her Hollywood career took off, this multi-talented star dabbled with a music career. Playing guitar and singing, Brie Larson self-recorded a number of songs. Impressively, Tommy Mottola, ex-husband of Mariah Carey and the man behind Casablanca records, signed the future star.
In 2005, she released her debut album, Finally Out of P.E. Her pop-punk sound was perfect for the time. However, she quickly became disillusioned with the music industry. As such, she set her full focus toward acting.
Praise from the Academy
In 2015, Brie Larson starred in Room. She played a kidnapping victim that took remarkable steps to free herself and her child who was borne of rape. The talented star completely devoted herself to the role. To prepare herself to play a woman forced to live in a small room by her captor, she spent an entire month in solitude in her apartment. And to accurately portray the physique of the tormented character, she stayed out of the sun and lost a significant amount of weight.
Her dedication paid off. While ticket sales were not record breaking, audiences and critics were astonished by Brie Larson’s and co-star Jacob Tremblay’s respective performances. As such, Brie Larson garnered numerous awards for the film including the Academy Award for Best Actress as well as the Golden Globe, BAFTA and Critic’s Choice Award.
First Hollywood Blockbuster
While Brie Larson received the ultimate recognition for her role in Room, she had yet to star in a major Hollywood blockbuster. Television appearances and independent films filled most of her resume. It seems the course of her career changed with Kong: Skull Island (2017). This big-budget, monster movie made the most of a timeless America story.
Set in 1973, this incarnation of the classic franchise starred Tom Hiddleston, John Goodman and Samuel L. Jackson alongside Brie Larson. Critics and audiences enjoyed the movie’s eye candy and action scenes. Some critics expressed surprise, even disappointment, that Brie Larson participated in such a light-hearted flick following her intense role in Room. However, her role in Kong instead spoke to the incredible versatility of the talented celebrity.
Marvel Cinematic Universe
Just two years later, Brie Larson entered the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Cast as Carol Danvers in Captain Marvel, she played the vital missing piece the Avengers needed. Her co-star from Kong: Skull Island and MCU mainstay, Samuel L. Jackson, also starred in the movie.
MCU movies have a history of success. And Captain Marvel lived up to the reputation. The movie even broke a number of box office records: sixth biggest movie opening, third-highest grossing movie of 2019, first female-led superhero movie to break $1 billion. Generally, audiences enjoyed the movie which stoked the flame of excitement for the final Avengers installment, Avengers: Endgame (2019). Of course, Captain Marvel had an integral role in Endgame as well.
Initially, Brie Larson had some doubts about joining the highly successful franchise. However, when she realized her character would likely empower young women, she eagerly signed up. And the rest is MCU history!
Television and movies on Brie Larson’s resume include: Raising Dad (2001-2002), Hoot (2006), Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010), House Broken (2010), United States of Tara (2009-2011), 21 Jump Street (2012), Don Jon (2013), Community (2013-2014), The Glass Castle (2017) and Between Two Ferns: The Movie (2019).
Cares & Causes
The notoriously private star has a few causes near and dear to her heart. Not surprisingly, gender equality tops her list. Early on, the outspoken celebrity lent her voice to the TimesUp movement. She also co-founded a women’s group to bring attention to films directed by women. Her hard work for the cause has not gone unnoticed. In 2018, Women in Film recognized the star with the Crystal Award for Excellence in Film.
But in many ways, Brie Larson’s social media game is what separates her from her colleagues. She manages all of her accounts herself and uses them to encourage and uplift women, particularly youth.
Upcoming Projects
Of course, audiences will see Brie Larson in another MCU installment. Captain Marvel 2 has been officially announced. Unfortunately, it is unlikely the movie will hit theaters before 2022.
Amazon Studios is also working on a project with the celebrity. Brie Larson will play Victoria Woodhull in a movie of the same name. The film will focus on the life of the suffragette who was the first woman to ever run for President of the United States in 1872. Brie Larson also serves as producer for the movie. Though in the pipeline since 2017, to date, no release date is known.
And a new Brie Larson movie is just a few weeks away. Just Mercy is a true story about a man wrongly convicted of murder. Cast alongside talented Hollywood stars Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx, Brie Larson will surely hold her own. The movie premieres December 25th. We wish her the best of luck!