So I pulled myself together and asked Captain Marvel for help.

I don't know why I thought it was a good idea to confide my career concerns to Brie Larson. Perhaps it was because her passion for advocacy had an encouraging aura about it. Maybe it's because I recently rewatched "Avengers: Endgame" and that scene where Captain Marvel single-handedly holds off Thanos is fresh in my mind. Or maybe it's because I just watched this video from Nissan (opens in new tab) in which Larson talks candidly about building a career in a male-dominated field and not compromising his value or belief in himself.

In honor of Larson's partnership with Nissan and International Women's Day, Marie Claire sat down with the on-screen superhero to talk about empowering women in the workplace, the changing Hollywood landscape after "Time's Up" (opens in new tab), and her spoke with her about the "legion" of fellow women who support her.

Marie Claire: Was there a time in your career when you really felt you had to compromise, and looking back, what would you have done differently?

Brie Larson: [My] concept of not compromising is to seek a seat at that table and not compromise within yourself. Of course, there are aspects outside of yourself that you can't always control. But trusting yourself and seeking what you deserve and what you think is right is a very big step. The concept of "underestimation" ends up holding us back. There was a time when I myself underestimated myself, and it was part of my growth as an individual to learn how to better advocate for myself.

I sometimes felt guilty for asking for things, even for speaking up to change a line of dialogue in a script or getting a fee that I thought I deserved. And the belief that I should be smaller works. Over the last couple of years, I've worked to eliminate that. When I advocate for myself, I only think about helping those who follow in my footsteps have a smoother path.

MC: Do you feel that guilt, no matter who is in charge?

BL: Myself, it's completely based on the individual and (my) sense of safety. And I'm very grateful that we're having more conversations in all industries about what people can do to feel safer in the workplace. It's not just about physical safety. It's also about safety where we can talk about ways we feel our work environments can be improved.

It only takes one bad experience to make you never want to do it again. All you have to do is tell your boss or a superior, even once, "I'm uncomfortable." And if the boss denies it or doesn't handle it well, you can drag it out for the rest of your life and project it that way, thinking, "That's just the way it is." After that, it takes a lot of courage to push through.

MC: I really relate to what you say (about projection). I too have just started a new job and am wondering when and how to speak up. Even though I've never had that conversation before, I'm already assuming how people will react in those situations.

BL: And for you to speak up now is an act of courage. Challenging yourself, challenging your reality and saying, "This is a vulnerable place for me," is not something that should be taken lightly. This is a particularly vulnerable area, especially when it comes to financial matters. I agree with you on that point and am very much looking forward to your challenge, whatever it may be. I think as you gain more experience, you will come to realize that what you thought was the worst that could happen is actually not the case. You are still safe. You just have to live authentically.

MC: Maybe this conversation is the courage I need. And I think a lot of women feel like they don't have that kind of support system. So I don't think you can have the kind of conversation that we're having, you never know who's going through that.

BL: And the bosses you're afraid to talk to might have similar experiences. [MC: Are there any women in the industry who have encouraged you not to compromise?

BL: Over the last couple of years, a community has been forming (open in new tab). I think it's great that we have a safe space where we can share our experiences together and think about where the industry is going and where our individual careers are going.

Often we carry shame inside because we don't know what is normal. Is it normal to feel this way? Is it normal to ask for this? Is it normal to be treated this way? And we have nothing to base this on. We just make decisions based on our intuition. So it's a wonderful thing to have people like me in your life. Technology allows them to run to me with one text message. I have an army of wonderful women on my cell phone, and whenever I need them, I can say, "Hey, do you have five minutes? I don't know what to do."

We all have moments when we don't know what to do. Even Oprah doesn't know what to do, so it's really important to have someone to talk to.

MC: Is Oprah one of the women in your mobile email arsenal?

BL: [laughs] No, Oprah is not in my phone. But I always tell myself that because I "other" the people that I admire. So I put them on a pedestal and act as if they have no struggles, no fears, no mistakes. It is not the people who have never made mistakes that inspire me. It is people who have made mistakes and have found ways to recover from them gracefully. They are able to admit when they are wrong. They make amends and change course when necessary. To me, that is what makes them worthy of respect.

MC: You have also been involved with Time's Up for several years now, pushing for inclusion riders (open in new tab) in the films you direct. Have you seen its effects?

BL: One of the things I would like to try to do is to redefine the concept of "change," because I think it's a very important concept, and I think it's a very important concept. But it doesn't work that way. The world is changing as rapidly as we want it to change. So I don't see my experience at Times Up (open in new tab), or any kind of activity I do in the future, as something that will end. [because] the higher our standards go, the more there is to do. I am excited about it. So I feel that this idea of never reaching complacency, staying curious, finding new solutions, and digging deeper, is my time on this planet.

MC: There are rumors that Marvel is looking for a female director for "Captain Marvel 2" (opens in new tab). How important is it to you that a woman direct the film?

BL: There is nothing I can tell you about the sequel. What I like about using my voice is that I say, "We need more different, diverse, unique, exciting new voices." And my industry is one that I feel I have a little bit of control over. So whether it's big productions or commercials, that's always important to me.

MC: In this Nissan ad, you also advocated for women on the set.

BL: Yes, the presence of women (opens in new tab), and to have as much diversity as possible, especially in entry-level positions. It is important to reflect diverse voices, especially in entry-level positions. It takes a long way to get to leadership.

For more articles like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.

Click here to sign up (opens in new tab)