For an out-of-job young actress whose credentials had mostly been parts in tiny independent films on a shoestring budget, Brie Larson has come a long way to be a Golden Globes Best Actress winner.
The 26-year-old lead actress of Room — a 2015 drama about the boundless love between a mother and her child — also bagged the Screen Actors Guild awards Best Actress trophy. It was in one of her appearances in those small-budget movies that she caught director Lenny Abrahamson’s attention. He then asked her for a coffee meeting, which they ended up talking for four hours, exhausting themes and thoughts and eventually clinching the lead part in the film.
Today, Bries is the toast of Hollywood, with Golden Globes and SAG Best Actress awards under her belt. But all this had not been in the books for Brie, a daughter of a single, struggling mother. She lived through her teenage years on junk food with just two pairs of jeans, two T-shirts, a headband, and a pair of red sneakers. Yet, she grew up a happy and hard-working kid.
Your real name is Brianne Sidonie Desaulniers. How did you become Brie Larson?
Well, my real name is hard to pronounce, and it just got extremely frustrating to correct people all the time. Plus, I never went by Brianne. It’s a name you get called when you’re in trouble. Larson is the family name from my great grandmother, who was half-Swedish.
You were wearing gold for the the Golden Globes. Is gold a favourite colour? Do you wear it often?
I do like gold. But in that case, the gold Tiffany’s jewellery ended up being the best match for that stunning creation by Calvin Klein. I’ve learned that the right jewellery has an amazing ability to pull a red carpet look together.
How do you accessorise for the red carpet? Do you leave picking jewellery to your stylist, or do you tell her what you want?
It’s a collaborative process. Usually, my stylist will suggest jewellery options that work with the look, because I trust that she’s the professional in that regard. And then I’ll pick out my favourites.
What kind of jewellery do you like to wear everyday?
I enjoy a great pair of statement earrings to personalise an otherwise standard, casual outfit, like jeans and a T-shirt.
When you travel for work, what are the pieces that must go with you?
I try not to travel with much jewellery other than what I need for the work trip. It’s a lot of responsibility taking beautiful pieces along on a press tour, which involves quick stops and lots of wardrobe changes.
What was the first piece of jewellery you bought for yourself?
It was probably a choker necklace in my early teenage years — those were very cool in the early 2000s. I’m trying to bring those back into my wardrobe now. I wore one on Live with Kelly & Michael recently and felt very proud.
Please tell us about your favourite piece of jewellery.
I received a beautiful opal ring as a gift a few years ago. It’s an easy thing to look at, and wearing it makes me feel connected to home when I’m away working. Jewellery can be a sentimental thing when it has a story behind it.
Do you like shopping for jewellery for yourself as stores, flea markets, vintage places? And what do you usually look for?
I’ve found some of my favourite pieces at vintage shops. I appreciate that they are unique, one-of-a-kind finds.
What would be the best piece of jewellery that expresses love to you?
It would be anything meaningful because of the person who gave it to you, or the story surrounding it.
