Brie Larson ‘tried to understand’ her estranged father

The awards season circuit comes with a lot of its own unique, uncomfortable trials, as first-time Oscar-nominee Brie Larson is learning. Like, for instance, opening up about your personal life, no matter how painful.

Proving she’s a natural and a champ, the “Room” star gamely openedup about her parents’ divorce toElle magazine — and about how she hasn’t spoken to her dad for a decade. “When legally I didn’t have to have visitation with him anymore, I jumped on it,” she says. “As a kid I tried to understand him and understand the situation. But he didn’t do himself any favors.

“I don’t think he ever really wanted to be a parent,” she continues.”It wasn’t until truly recently that I realized that’s why so much of my work was so volatile.”

She handled that one quite well, I think. Next up: feigning amusement at the terrible jokes from the co-hosts of “The View.” It’s a long road to the Oscars.