Interview with Brie Larson, member of the Feature Films Jury

This is your first time at Cannes; what do you think of the Festival so far?

It’s completely surreal to me. I’m doing my best to keep up, I leave voice notes for my mom at night so I don’t forget anything. I feel as though it’s a pivotal moment in my life. Meetings, films, deliberations… there’s so much going on! My fellow Jury members are like family now.

What made you want to work in films when you were a child?

I don’t really know, I was so young. My parents weren’t from an arts or film background, but I told my mother that this was what I wanted to do. Now that I’m living my dream, I’m super grateful to that child for putting me on this path.

Is there a film that marked a turning point in your career?

Short Term 12, by Destin Daniel Cretton, was a game-changer for me. It was my first lead role, when I’d imagined myself stuck in supporting roles my whole career. The opportunity helped me to discover a part of myself that I wanted to share with the audience.

“Samuel L. Jackson has taught me a lot, from my work in front of the camera to how to motivate a team on set.”

As an actress, which collaborations have taught you the most?

The actor Jacob Tremblay, my co-star in Room, played a key role in my life. I couldn’t have done that film without him. He was only eight at the time but he was so smart, so conditioned. He didn’t fully understand the meaning of the film so he didn’t let the drama overtake him. After some of the emotional scenes, he thought I was crying for real and asked me to stop!

The director Destin Daniel Cretton also changed my life, by the way he directed me. On the set of Short Term 12, I had a panic attack scene, where I was supposed to be completely beside myself. After the first take, Destin moved on straight away, so I assumed my performance was disappointing. I apologised and offered to do it again, and he was like: “No, it was great, I don’t need to see you torture yourself any more”. He shows a lot of care and empathy towards his actors, and taught me that it’s not always about crying or shouting the loudest during a dramatic scene.

Then there’s Samuel L. Jackson, with whom I regularly work. He spends so much time preparing and studying the script that when he arrives on set, he’s already anticipated all the possible ways to play a scene. He has taught me a lot, from my work in front of the camera to how to motivate a team on set.

You switch from independent films to blockbusters so easily. As an actress, how does the approach differ for you?

For me, it doesn’t. From the get-go, I decided not to change my way of working based on the type of film. The only difference is the size of the crew. Aside from that, my job remains the same.

“Directing is a way for me to express myself on my own terms.”

What prompted you to become a director?

I’ve always wanted to be part of the whole process of creating a film. In general, actors don’t participate in production meetings; they don’t see the full scope of things. Directing is a way for me to express myself on my own terms. When I have all the information in my head, I feel like I’m doing a better job because I’m more conscious of where I stand and where I’m going. It’s also made me take a step back from myself and be more objective about my performance.

Will we see you behind the camera again?

Of course. I’m waiting to find the right script, to be inspired. I don’t have a set plan. Sometimes I feel like I can go for long periods without doing anything. When I finish a project, I take a break, I live my life. It fills me with new concepts, new ideas that I think are worth sharing.