5 Things Brie Larson Does Every Morning to Keep Her Brain (and Body) Sharp

It’s safe to say Brie Larson has reached superhero stardom…literally. The actress most recently starred as Captain Marvel in the Marvel Studios’ film of the same name, and has won an Oscar, Golden Globe, and Emmy for several of her dynamic on-screen roles. She’s been in dramas like Room, historical fictions, like the Apple TV+ series Lessons in Chemistry, and comedies like the mid-2000s film Sleepover.

But beyond the screen, Larson juggles worldwide press tours and three-hour dance sessions (a fun form of exercise she’s recently taken to and, of course, is really good at). For her next exciting project, she’ll take the stage, starring as the lead role in Elektra—a play adaptation of Sophocles’ Greek tragedy, which will debut on the West End in London in early 2025.

Despite it all, Larson still manages to carve out some “me time” for herself in the morning. She prioritizes her gut and brain health, in particular, and has found simple, yet effective ways to nourish her body and mind. We caught up with Larson to take us through her morning routine which incorporates supplements, skincare, brain games, and mindful moments— everything that keeps her mind sharp and ready to slay her day.

She wakes up with a hydrating glass of H2O

I wake up between 5:30 or 6 a.m. and start my day by forcing myself to drink a glass of water (even though, like everyone else, I want to start my day with caffeine.) But I know that doesn’t always work. So, I sip on a cold glass and then take my dogs out.

Then, she eats breakfast and takes vitamins before morning dance class

I’ll have a breakfast of some kind—and usually, it’s eggs and toast. After that, I’ll take my supplements. It kind of rotates depending on what I’m doing. Right now, I’m dancing a lot and I’m really active, so supplements have become very important for me. I take Thorne’s Amino Complex, vitamin D, and zinc supplements. I’m also having this moment with my gut microbiome right now, so I’m also taking their EnteroMend, FiberMend, and Women’s Daily Probiotic.

• Thorne Amino Complex ($41)
• Thorne Vitamin D-5000 ($14)
• Thorne Zinc Bisglycinate ($10)
• Thorne EnteroMend ($40)
• Thorne FiberMend ($38)
• Thorne Women’s Daily Probiotic ($33)

Editor’s note: Larson has a current partnership with Thorne.

I rely on supplements because I’m one of those people who puts pedal to the metal; people don’t really see how much I’m traveling. On a press tour, I’m traveling from, say, Los Angeles to London, London to China, China to Australia—and the second we arrive, we start. It’s a lot to ask your mind and body to be healthy, alert, and form complete sentences. Very quickly, I have to figure out ways to hack my body to do the impossible. A huge part of it is through supplements.

The cool thing about the supplements I’m taking is I get pretty immediate feedback. It’s not the type of thing where three weeks later, you think, “I guess that’s working?” Even with dancing at least three hours a day, I feel a huge difference, and taking the Amino Complex has played a big part in making me feel so alive.

I’ve also been taking vitamin D and zinc for so long now. Because I’m not going outside enough to reap the benefits of sunlight, plus I’m shaking lots of people’s hands on tours. I have to take these vitamins or I’ll end up getting sick. And it’s sad getting sick on a press tour; you miss out on the fun of being in one of these new, different countries. So, it’s important to do whatever I can to prevent that.

She plays brain games to sharpen her mind

While my two dogs (who are in love with each other) just frolic and play in the morning, I get to have my “me time” and continue on with my morning routine. I love to wear Gelato Pique’s comfy pajamas when I’m going through my whole morning routine. Lately, I’ve been getting into breathing exercises, so I take a few mindful moments. I also play New York Times’ Wordle and Connections because I feel like it’s good for my brain. The Spelling Bee is really hard, but I try to do it every day to push myself.

• Gelato Pique Basic Powder Pullover & Long Pants Loungewear Set ($145)

Skincare stays clean, cold, and simple

I like my face to feel cold in the morning, so I use Oak Essentials’ Moisture Rich Balm to wash my face, which adds a nice cooling effect. I also keep my products in a little skincare fridge to keep them chilled. Sometimes, if I’m feeling extra luxurious, I’ll use an ice roller on my face. I have, like, four of those ESARORA ice rollers from Amazon—they’re heaven. All of this is really because I like to have everything clean before I go to dance and sweat my life away.

• Oak Essentials Moisture Rich Balm ($88)
• Crownful Mini Fridge ($46)
• ESARORA Ice Roller ($19)

Finally, it’s coffee time

When I’m dressed and ready to go, I’ll indulge in my morning caffeine. I grab some coffee for the road and I’m out the door to get the rest of the day started. 

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.