The Stunning Transformation Of Brie Larson

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

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 direcitor who always knew she wanted to work in the entertainment business. But even she likely didn't predict the success she's earn, 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.

Though she's known for her work as an actress, 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.

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 continued on to say, "It 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."

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."

2015 was a big year for Larson, as the film Room came out, which the actress starred in and would later win an Academy Award for. In this intense role, Larson completely put herself into the space of her character's mind. NPR spoke with the actress about this process, esplaining how she trained her brain in certain ways. "For 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. But at the same time, she's learned to quickly move from one project to the next. As she said, "When the movie is done you have to clean house and rewire your brain again."

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."