Brie Larson: An American Cinematheque Retrospective

ABOUT THE SERIES:

The American Cinematheque is thrilled to celebrate the stirring career of universally acclaimed actor and filmmaker Brie Larson. We are honored to have the opportunity for Ms. Larson to join us in person for a discussion about her captivating new series LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY, which has been nominated for ten Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie for her role as scientist Elizabeth Zott.

Brie Larson’s artistic range spans over vast realms, beginning with acting in TV sitcoms prior to taking on supporting roles in films of all genres. As a burgeoning actor, Larson concurrently embraced her musical proclivities and was briefly signed to Casablanca Records before transitioning into acting full time. Her first leading role was in the revered independent drama SHORT TERM 12, in which she plays Grace Howard, the supervisor of a group home for troubled teenagers. Larson’s unfeigned rendering of Grace earned her Best Actress wins at the Locarno Film Festival and Gotham Awards. She continued collaborating with director Destin Daniel Cretton on JUST MERCY, a biographical drama based on Bryan Stevenson’s memoir about his time as a defense attorney who represents people on death row, and THE GLASS CASTLE, an adaptation of Jeannette Walls’s best-selling memoir about her unconventional upbringing. Larson’s breakthrough performance as a young mother held in captivity in ROOM garnered the performer an Academy Award, Golden Globe, BAFTA, and SAG Award for Best Actress.

In 2019, the venerated actor starred as Carol Danvers in Marvel’s first female-led superhero film, CAPTAIN MARVEL, which broke box office records and earned her a spot on TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2019 list. Larson has stated that she wanted to use her role as Captain Marvel as a platform to empower young women, illustrating her inclination for social activism. Additionally, the actor has worked with top directors and co-stars on esteemed films including Edgar Wright’s SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD, Judd Apatow’s TRAINWRECK, James Ponsoldt’s THE SPECTACULAR NOW, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s DON JON. Larson’s feature film directorial debut, UNICORN STORE, premiered at the 2017 Toronto Film Festival. She became an Emmy Award winner in 2020 for Outstanding Original Interactive Program as a co-producer for THE MESSY TRUTH VR EXPERIENCE.