‘Brie Larson rewrites tradition as first female superhero from Marvel Cinematic Universe.’
That was one of the many headlines that heralded Brie as the new face of Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Following the release of the much-hyped movie, social media buzzed with grand overtures of the coming of age of cinematic equity, while media analysts and observers predicted a new lease of life for superhero movies that have hitherto been predominantly male oriented. What bolstered the positive feedback was also the box office statistics of the movie. It not only entered the billion-dollar club at the box office, it also beat the lifetime worldwide collection of ‘The Dark Knight’.
For Brie Larson, who had to bear taunts from naysayers and critics, that box office collection was indeed a validation of her acting prowess and the readiness of international audiences to accept a female superhero as easily as her male counterparts. The movie also opened the platform to speak out against the wage gap in the film industry, as Brie took on the cudgels, so to say, to open up about the importance of ‘asking for what you deserve’. She is reported to have earned $5million for Captain Marvel, which makes her the highest paid MCU star in the first standalone film.
At a press event, she said that she earns what she does because of the women in the industry who have come before her, paving the way for higher quotes. Exhorting women who hesitate to ask for higher pay, she stated: “When women talk to me about this, I say, ‘You know, don’t even do it for you, if that makes you feel weird right now. Do it for the women that are gonna come after you… Do it for the next one. Do it for the future you, because you are helping. And if that can give you a little bit more of a stir and a fight, then do it. We need you.’”
Brianne Sidonie Desaulniers, known professionally as Brie Larson, has been vocal about her stand in the industry. She first earned attention for her supporting work in comedies as a teenager, and has since expanded to leading roles in independent dramas and film franchises, receiving an Academy Award and a Golden Globe.
She was only six years old when she became the youngest student admitted to a training programme at the American Conservatory Theater. Her acting career began when she was nine, with a comedy sketch in ‘The Tonight Show with Jay Leno’; her breakthrough came with a leading role in the acclaimed independent drama ‘Short Term 12’ in 2013. As her career progressed, she went on to win the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role as a kidnapped victim in 2015. Her first big budget release came with ‘Kong: Skull Island’, following which she starred as the titular superhero in ‘Captain Marvel’, recently.
Success, however, has not changed her personal equations. She is quoted to have said, “In this industry, where things change so quickly, I have found that having no expectations is the happiest way to go.”