
Brie Larson took home the Best Actress Oscar Sunday night, instantly becoming one of the most talked-about stars in Hollywood. The 26 year old was nominated for her role in Room, the film adaptation of Emma Donoghue‘s 2010 bestselling novel. Larson plays Ma, a kidnapped woman who is trapped in an 11-by-11-foot garden shed with her young son Jack, who has never been outside. Here’s what you need to know about the newly minted Oscar winner:
Brie Larson is a stage name
She was born Brianne Sidonie Desaulniers but now uses Larson, which is a family name from her great-grandmother.
Her first job was with Jay Leno
The actress got her start in a skit on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno called “Mudslide Barbie” when she was seven. Since then, she has appeared on Showtime’s The United States of Tara and starred in movies like Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Greenberg and 21 Jump Street.
She’s no stranger to the award show circuit
Larson earned critical raves for her performance in Short Term 12, a film about a home for troubled teens. She starred as a foster-care-facility worker with a difficult past, and received the best actress award at the Locarno Film Festival. The film also won the grand jury award at South By Southwest and numerous nominations and awards.
She’s also a musician
Larson sang on the Barbie Castle float during the Macy’s Day Parade in 2005, the same year she released an album called “Finally Out of P.E.” and toured with Jesse McCartney.
She’s a Star Wars fan
The actress said when she learned Room co-star Jacob Tremblay was a Star Wars fan, she knew they had a connection. Her Reddit name is TonTonClub, taken from the lizard species in the fantasy series.
She’s all about women in Hollywood
Larson played Amy Schumer’s sister in Trainwreck, and continued her friendship with the comedian as well as fellow women in Hollywood Amy Poehler and Cecily Strong.
She’s also close to Shailene Woodley, her co-star in 2013’s The Spectacular Now. The two reportedly were both up for the role of Ma in Room.
“I knew it was down to the two of us,” Larson told New York in 2014. “And I realized that, either way, the movie would be amazing. When I got the part, my agent said, ‘Team Shai is really happy for you!’ ” “And I was!” Woodley said.
Where you can see her next
Next up for the star is Kong: Skull Island, which is set to be released in 2017. She’s also tied to the film adaptation of Jeannette Walls’ memoir The Glass Castle, which will reunite Larson with Short Term 12 director Destin Cretton.
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