Brie was born in Hollywood, California. Her mother is Jewish and her father is of Dutch, Irish, and Scottish origin. She started acting in 2004 at the Jewish Community Center in Southern California. She lives in Los Angeles. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the California Institute of the Arts in 2005. Before she was a movie actress, Brie worked as a clown at birthday parties. She also performed in theater in California. Brie also studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Scotland.