Larisa’s family lives in a stately Tudor-style home in suburban San Francisco. She lives there with her mother, father, and cat Tigger (a brown tabby who is older than Larisa). Larisa in an only child. Her mother Lorraine is a former nurse and her dad Roman is an anesthesiologist. According to Larisa "my parents are very supportive." In March 1997 Larisa was asked what she had inherited from her parents? " From my Dad, probably the need to perform. He's a doctor but he plays piano and when I was really little, he got me into piano. So I've always loved to perform. From my Mom, she says I'm her best travel companion. I'm really adventurous and I love to eat- I got that from my Mom!" When asked about religion Larisa responded " I am Russian Orthodox and I go to church as often as I can." When Larisa was asked in 1997 what she does in her spare time she said "I hang out with my friends. Go to movies and concerts. I am just learning how to snowboard." Larisa has said the following about her friends and school: "I've had the same friends for a long time. I've gone to the same school since kindergarten, so it's no big deal. Sometimes people want to be my friend because of whatever, but then they get to know me and see it's no big deal. Everyone knows I'm normal." The private school that Larisa attends has a very challenging curriculum. Larisa has definite plans to attend college.

"I write an advice column for Tiger Beat, and sometimes I get really frustrated and wonder why they ask ME for advice, but it’s part of the territory, and if I can help kids in a positive way... But I know how to separate that from my everyday life... I’m a struggling teenager as well."

"I go to a regular school, and that is very, very important to me. I'm around kids who aren't in the acting industry. When you're around normal kids like that, it keeps you normal. It is kind of hard going back and forth between school and the set. I do have a tutor. But this year I got to go to the winter formal, I got to go to the prom; I got to do all the fun stuff. It's funny, we did this video yearbook this semester, and I got so much more excited when I saw myself on it then I do when I see myself on TV. I'm just so proud of being in school."

When Larisa was asked about the charities she is involved she said "Because I'm part of Nickelodeon, I'm an active part of Nickelodeon's Big Help. It's kind of a year-round thing, but there are a few big days when we go around and collect food, and things like that.. And I'm also involved with Hands Across Communication,... It's a company that does signing for hearing-impaired people. Also Surfrider Foundation and Starlight Foundation." Larisa is also a Youth Ambassador for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

Larisa has also treated her fans well. Despite an extremely busy schedule she has taken time to chat with fans at Celebrity Sightings, AOL, and "People Magazine Online" and answer what fan mail she can. Of course she gets so much fan mail it is not humanly possible to personally answer all of it. In a 1997 call in radio show Larisa was asked how she dealt with her "obsessed " fans: