It must be kind of strange since you and Tom Hanks are both playing children in this movie. Does that add a whole different dynamic to your relationship?
That’s a good question. Well, we did get to know each other in ways that might not get described verbally very well. There’s a quiet, you know? I watched him for a week before I came on the set to start my work to see what his attack was. And it was kind of the opposite of an attack. It was sort of a centering, quieting process that’s very personal.
He had all kinds of shoulder problems during filming from an injury six months before. I was trained as a massage therapist years and years and years ago. So I worked on his shoulder and relieved his pain one or two times a day. And then we’d go in and look at each other. I’m so glad you asked that question. So yeah, I think it was a lot of growth for us as actors together. I hope we get to work together again in the not-too-distant future and build from that. Or just be lucky enough to stay grounded in that way.
What is it about this story in particular that resonates with adults, not just with children?
You know, not to knock other Christmas films or films that have children, these children are very strong individually and they’re not precocious. They come from homes where we believe there’s some parents there. And you know, it might be argued that the entire film is a dream. But the question is asked by my character at the end of the movie and the answer sort of defies or belies what the answer may be. It doesn’t matter. The movie is about this search for magic that isn’t about the circumstance of getting a gift or getting what you asked for, but getting what you need and embracing that. So it’s not a kid's film. It’s not an adult's film. It’s a work of art. It sounds pretentious but it is a work of art. It truly is. I can’t believe I got to be a part of it.
Additional Interviews from the Premiere of "The Polar Express:"
Nona Gaye / Tom Hanks & Robert Zemeckis / Daryl Sabara / Producer Steve Starkey
