Brie Larson Said That It Took Her “A Long Time” To Be Able To Enjoy The “Basic Things” In Her Life Again After Filming “Room,” Which Is Why She Hasn’t Done Anymore “Dark” Movies

This article briefly mentions sexual assault.

Brie Larson was just 7 years old when she first started acting, and spent her teen years appearing in various TV shows and movies — even launching a short-lived music career when she was 16 years old.

A teenage Brie Larson with long hair and bangs, smiling at the camera
Steve Granitz / WireImage

However, she arguably didn’t get her breakthrough role until she was in her mid-20s when she was cast as Ma in the critically acclaimed movie Room.

Brie Larson sitting on a chair in a sparse room, looking up towards the camera with a serious expression in a scene from Room
A24 / Via youtube.com

Released in 2015, Room is based on Emma Donoghue’s bestselling novel of the same name and tells the story of a young woman who was kidnapped as a teenager and held captive for seven years alongside her 5-year-old son, Jack, who was born in captivity, played by Jacob Tremblay.

Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay look at a mirror in a scene from Room
A24 / Via youtube.com

The Hollywood Reporter previously revealed that everybody from Emma Watson to Rooney Mara was considered for the lead character, but director Lenny Abrahamson cast Brie after watching her 2013 indie movie Short Term 12.

Lenny Abrahamson and Brie Larson smile for a photo at an event
Variety / Penske Media via Getty Images

Suffice to say, Brie turned out to be the right woman for the job, with the star wowing viewers and critics alike with her emotional performance that ultimately earned her the Best Actress Academy Award.

Brie Larson, smiling and holding her Oscar trophy, in a stylish sleeveless gown with floral details
C Flanigan / FilmMagic

But playing survivor Ma was no mean feat. Before taking on the role, Brie consulted with a trauma expert and nutritionist, followed a restrictive diet, and avoided sunlight in a bid to add more authenticity to her performance.

Brie Larson looks concerned while leaning over, wearing a patterned T-shirt and a necklace

Interestingly, Brie previously said that she found the scenes in the room easier to film, telling AV Club: “At that point, she’s suppressing everything. There’s not a lot of intensity and being upset, because she doesn’t fully realize what it is. She’s numb to what’s going on."

Brie Larson in Room

Fast-forward almost a decade, and Brie has now revealed that she still steers clear of movies that are as “dark” as Room because it ended up taking her a full year to recover from the project.

Brie Larson in a strapless dress with an orange bodice and sheer embellished skirt at a red carpet event, standing in front of a lush green foliage backdrop

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