The Stunning Transformation Of Brie Larson

Brianne Sidonie Desaulniers was born in 1989. She grew up in Sacramento, Calif., raised by a single mom. She was homeschooled as a child, but Desaulniers always knew she wanted to perform.

Desaulniers may not be a familiar name to us, but what about Brie Larson? That's exactly who this young girl grew up to be. Larson is an actress, singer, and director who always knew she wanted to work in the entertainment business. But even she likely didn't predict the success she's earned, all while maintaining her values and standing up for what she believes in. 

Though she's known for her Oscar-winning performance in "Room," Larson has had quite a history in acting and singing that many aren't familiar with. She worked hard to be where she is today, so let's take a look at her stunning transformation from Brianne Sidonie Desaulniers to the fabulous Brie Larson.

Brie Larson had wanted to be an actor since she was 6 years old, and she was lucky enough to have a parent who supported her dream. As she revealed in a 2004 interview with Scholastic, her mom tried really hard to get her involved in all things acting. "[S]he put me in acting classes for a year, and I really enjoyed it. I got an agent in San Francisco because we were living in Sacramento at the time. I never got anything, so we moved to Los Angeles", Larson said. Even then, the actor knew to dream big. In the same interview, she said, "One of my goals is to get every kind of award possible — Golden Globe, Oscar, Grammy, you name it."

Unlike all the child stars who ditched Hollywood for surprisingly normal jobs, Larson found joy in the entertainment industry. She was cast in "13 Going on 30" and then went on to appear in "Sleepover." Years later, when interviewing with the Cannes Film Festival, Larson couldn't quite say what it was that drew her younger self to the world of acting. However, she seemed glad to have followed her gut feeling and taken the leap. As she explained, "My parents weren't from an arts or film background, but I told my mother that this was what I wanted to do. Now that I'm living my dream, I'm super grateful to that child for putting me on this path."

Though she's known for her work as an actress, Brie Larson also started her entertainment career in music. She released her debut album in 2005, and even as a teen, Larson stayed true to herself as she got started in the industry. She discussed her music with Kidz World and described how its inspiration came from her own life: "I think that I write about stuff that others don't write about. I don't have a bunch of love songs 'cause I don't really have much boy experience. I just write about what I am actually going through in my real life."

But even at a young age, Larson saw the tough part of being in the industry. During the interview, she discussed the difficulties she faced, from the focus on her image to comments about her being too bright, saying, "The one that really bugs me is that I'm told I'm too smart to make it in this industry. It can be hard sometimes to hear stuff like that." With all of that talent and wit, we have no doubt Larson could become an EGOT winner one of these days.

Brie Larson has always loved a challenge, so it makes sense she has also always enjoyed playing characters who are very different from herself. In 2010, the then 20-year-old was interviewed about her character Kate in "United States of Tara." She told Collider, "I do enjoy it because I never was a teenager like Kate was. I was homeschooled, was always very close with my mom, and was very straight-laced and square. I was never the rebellious one, and I never threw hissy fits. I was the type of person that would show a PowerPoint presentation about why I should do something versus crying and screaming over it."

While she loved taking on someone so different from herself, she also enjoyed the challenge of bringing a bit of herself into her characters as well. In the interview, she went on to say, "[I]t was fun to delve into that and be that terror that I never was, but it's also nice, at the same time, to bring a little bit more of me back into it and surprise people a little bit, with the way this teenager acts."

In 2012, Brie Larson took on a big role in the film remake of "21 Jump Street." It was a role that gave Larson even more notice and reinforced the fact that all of her hard work was worth it. Because she was starring in a movie about high school, it was common for Larson to be asked about her own experience during interviews. Having been homeschooled, the then-22-year-old may have not had the classic high school experience, but she was happy she had always gone after her goals. 

She spoke with Collider about this, saying, "I never thought that I missed out on anything. I never really wanted any of that. I wasn't interested in going to the school dances. I wasn't interested in going to the football games. What I wanted was to be in my room painting my walls and doing weird stuff." The actress has never been afraid to be open and to be herself. She broke it down even further to MTV, saying, "I guess I was always an outsider and some kind of anarchist."

Brie Larson keeps it real when it comes to the less glamorous side of Hollywood. In 2013, the then 24-year-old opened up to The Guardian: "I have no problem talking about how hard it's been, how broke I've been, and how broke I was not even that long ago. ... I was freaking out around this time last year because I thought, 'This is it. I've really screwed myself because I did three independent films. I didn't do anything for money, and now I don't have anything.' I was eBaying stuff for Christmas presents."

Even though that nerve-racking feeling can be overwhelming, Larson made it very clear she would not take on a role just because of the money. So what goes through her mind during those tough times? She explained, "I won't do things for money. I can't ... So I'll hold out and say, in my mind, 'There's a really cool diner down the street from my house. They make really good pancakes. I'd be happy doing that. I'd certainly be happier doing that than I would be on a set trying to be, you know, a sexy football coach.' That means some really frugal years, but I don't have kids and I'm fine eating cereal if that's what it takes."

"To find the courage to do what I want to do for myself has been hard. ... And that can be exhausting." Brie Larson shared with Vulture in 2014. At 24 years old, the actress was not interested in the fashion and glam that came with her fame and recognition; if anything, it made her uncomfortable. 

She addressed this pressure from the industry, saying, "I wanted to feel safe. ... Too many times, I've put on the dress and the heels and tried to be this person that they want me to be, and I can feel myself getting itchy. Photos are taken at these events, and those photos are just another thing for women to compare themselves to and feel put down. I know that I can start going off in my brain about silly things like, 'Why is Cate Blanchett's skin so perfect?!' And I need to stop myself." Larson was becoming a star who loves her craft for what it is and, refreshingly, worked to avoid getting caught up in the flashy side of the business.

2015 was a big year for Larson because of the film "Room." The actress not only starred in it, but she also later won an Academy Award. In this intense role, Larson completely put herself into the space of her character's mind. NPR spoke with the actress about this process, explaining how she trained her brain in certain ways. "[F]or instance, with 'Room,' as I was prepping in those eight months, things like my wrists had to be sore. And so I started wiring my brain to think that my wrist was sore, so that by the time we started shooting, I didn't have to remember, 'Oh, my wrists are sore; I can't do that.' I almost felt it like a phantom pain in my wrist."

This star has a dedication to her work, and it's easy to see just how passionate she is about it. At the same time, she's learned to quickly move from one project to the next. As she put it, "[W]hen the movie is done you have to clean house and rewire your brain again."

As a new year began, Larson's fame grew even more. She received more awards for her great work in "Room," and it was announced she would next star in "Kong: Skull Island." All signs were pointing up for Larson, but she had to work to feel comfortable with this amount of attention. She described these feelings to The Hollywood Reporter, saying, "I can't help but trip out about how similar my life is to 'Room.' ... It's me wanting to stay in my own little bubble and remain anonymous and invisible and at the same time needing to step up to this hand that I've been given."

She went into detail about all of these new experiences the past year had brought and how each really pushed her outside of her comfort zone. She not only takes each new role seriously, but also takes each of the interviews she does in support of them seriously. She went on to say, "When I leave an interview I learn whether I feel, 'Oh, that was nice, or that made me feel like a little piece of me was taken.' It's a line that is always on the edge of being crossed, and once you cross it, what's next?"

Brie Larson is known for her honesty — and sometimes her face reveals what her mouth doesn't say. At the 2017 Oscars, fans and press noticed her less-than-thrilled reaction to Casey Affleck's win as she awkwardly presented his Academy Award for best actor. Affleck was previously accused by two women of sexual harassment.

Her silence didn't last long. In an interview with Jane Fonda for Net-a-Porter, Larson talked about the deep impact of playing two characters who were sexually abused. This ignited a spark in her to speak up, but she explained, "It can get wild... especially on social media." She elaborated that she started "getting a lot of backlash" and people telling her she doesn't know what she's talking about. "When so many people tell you that, it's easy to start believing it." But she refuses to back down. "I'd put it all on the line and be an activist for the rest of my life," she said, "because it doesn't feel right to me to be quiet."

Brie Larson may have won an Oscar, but that does not mean her career was necessarily guaranteed. Like many Academy Award-winning actors, Larson did not want her big prize to define her. Instead, she hoped to look forward to the next project. As she revealed in an interview with The Telegraph, "To do something that people wanted to hear was very profound. But, you know, you win the Oscar and life goes on. You still have to turn up to work the next day like anyone else."

For Larson, this meant dedicating herself to every project — regardless of how many people may or may not watch it. When representatives from the Cannes Film Festival asked her how her approach to a blockbuster film might differ from an indie project, Larson was quite direct. "For me, it doesn't," she said. "From the get-go, I decided not to change my way of working based on the type of film. The only difference is the size of the crew. Aside from that, my job remains the same."

Some of Larson's dedication likely stems from the challenges that she has already overcome in her career. After all, she worked very hard to get to where she is. In her own words, she is a person "whose early career was very tough, very gradual and slow, and who only ever wanted [financial] security as a working actor," according to the same Telegraph interview.

Many of Brie Larson's biggest fans know that she has harbored an interest in acting since her youth. But what many people don't know is that she had a similar experience with directing. Back in 2004, when asked about her future plans, she told Scholastic, "I want to go to University of Southern California and study directing." Ultimately, Larson did not attend university — not that it mattered. She directed the 2017 comedy "Unicorn Store," which first hit the big screen at the Toronto Film Festival. Released to the public via Netflix, the film garnered mixed reviews. But critics' critiques aside, "Unicorn Store" revolutionized Larson's approach toward cinema as a whole.

Speaking to the Cannes Film Festival, Larson said that directing helped her gain a new perspective on movies. "I've always wanted to be part of the whole process of creating a film." "In general, actors don't participate in production meetings; they don't see the full scope of things." Getting that full scope through the experience of directing was huge for Larson. It pushed her to become a better team player and a more thoughtful actor. "When I have all the information in my head, I feel like I'm doing a better job because I'm more conscious of where I stand and where I'm going. It's also made me take a step back from myself and be more objective about my performance," she added.

In 2019, Brie Larson sank her teeth into a totally different kind of Hollywood role by playing Captain Marvel in the movie of the same name. This role opened up an entire universe to the actor — specifically the Marvel Universe — as she quickly found herself starring "The Marvels," as well. Before long, new opportunities sprung up all around her. Larson was selected to act in footage for certain Disney rides, including Disneyland Paris' "Avengers Assemble: Flight Force" and Disney Cruise's "Avengers: Quantum Encounter."

Although this should have been an exciting moment, there was also controversy about Brie Larson, which was that many Marvel fans were disappointed with the fact that she — a woman — had been cast as Captain Marvel. Many rushed to leave rude comments and bad film reviews online. When asked how she felt about this situation by The Telegraph, Larson's response said it all: "I don't think there is a way for me to answer that without it becoming a problem for me."

In a separate conversation with Rolling Stone (via Variety), Larson's friend and Marvel Universe co-star, Samuel L. Jackson, voiced his opinion. "She's not going to let any of that stuff destroy her. ... She is who she is, and she's genuinely that," he said. Ultimately, the film had a mixed performance with great results at the domestic box office and weaker numbers internationally.

It's difficult to imagine that starring in "Captain Marvel" was easy for Brie Larson. Very few actors would be thrilled to receive the same level of pushback and public shaming that she faced in the wake of the film's release. Luckily, however, Larson has always made taking care of herself a priority. And it's possible that her self-care routine played a role in getting through these tougher times. Speaking to Brit+Co. about her practice, Larson revealed that temperature changes like "[a] hot bath, a cold shower, both — anything that sort of wakes your brain up and kind of jolts it" are integral to helping her stay present.

Physical activity has also played a major role in her life. In the same interview, the actor said that exercises with foam rollers and bands have really helped her be the best version of herself. "I always do [those exercises] every morning because even if I don't want to do it, which I always don't want to do it, I feel a lot better after I do it," she confessed. Eating delicious meals has also been part of Larson's daily self-care schedule. "I've been making pasta and sausage quite a bit and I make tacos quite a bit. I mean, I kind of just do like protein and veggies and a little bit of a carb," she explained. Thai takeout is also frequently on the menu, so Larson can get cozy without cooking.

Although acting and directing are clearly Brie Larson's passions, she has not limited herself to those two arenas. Over the years, she has fought hard to complete several physical challenges, setting goals for herself outside of Hollywood. Reflecting on one such challenge on Wired, Larson recalled, "I did push my [personal] trainer's Jeep for 60 seconds at a slight incline. So, that was really cool." She went on to add that she's an enthusiastic rock climber with a penchant for bouldering. She even climbed Grand Teton Mountain in Wyoming, representing a significant accomplishment.

Speaking to this fact in a YouTube video, Larson explained, "A couple years ago, my trainer Jason and I were training for 'Captain Marvel.' And after I had accomplished what I felt like were just the peaks of physical performance for myself, [professional climber] Jimmy said, 'I want to take you to my home turf. Come to Wyoming. We are going to climb the Grand.' I, of course, accepted." Armed with a whole lot of determination, Larson accompanied Jason and Jimmy to Grand Teton National Park. The trio packed their bags full of food, water, and ropes. Then, they fought their way to the top. Upon arriving, Larson said, "I don't know how to describe getting to the top. You just get so deeply rewarded with that view ... I was just so moved and so at peace."

Just because Brie Larson is a talented film actor does not mean that she avoids the stage. In 2025, she made her debut on the London stage by starring in a West End production of "Elektra." This project stood out from most of her previous work because she performed it for a live audience. As Larson told The Telegraph at the time, she had grown tired of performing only for film crews and was looking for a new kind of public. "I've hit a point where I am interested in having experiences with audiences who are not on their phones," she quipped.

Of course, performing for a traditional stage audience comes with its fair share of challenges. During rehearsals, Larson occasionally found it difficult to strike the right balance when addressing spectators. Because the character of Elektra is angry and vengeful, Larson occasionally struggled not to bring that energy to her rehearsals. According to the same piece in The Telegraph, her director, Daniel Fish, once had to tell her, "Don't act so ­aggressively towards the ­aud­ience." Larson, evidently, tweaked her delivery.

Ultimately, Larson's forays into stage acting represented a fun challenge that pushed her in new ways. In the same interview, Fish acknowledged Larson's desire for artistic change. "I knew Brie was looking for something that would be difficult, demanding, not safe," he divulged. 

When it comes to older movies, many classics are full of racist and sexist moments that will make you cringe today. As a serious actor with a huge place in the spotlight, Brie Larson is painfully aware of this fact. She does not want to star in a film that will reflect poorly on her in the future, and for this reason, she refuses to participate in any projects that don't embrace her beliefs of equality and equity. Speaking about this to Brit+Co., Larson explained, "Film and television, it lives in a way that is beyond me physically. So I'm here talking to you, but anybody can be watching whatever they want."

With this in mind, Larson said that she tries to choose projects that align with her values. To accomplish this, she apparently looks at each script with a critical eye. In the same interview, Larson added, "And so I try my best to think through what the pieces are saying so that they go out in the world and I don't get to be at the end of it and explain it or tell people what to feel or what to take from it. It lives a life outside of me. So I try and make sure that it has a complete message in it that I feel like I'll be able to live with for the rest of my life."