Sandra Bullock has been doing the press circuit for her upcoming Netflix film, Bird Box, where she plays a mother during a post apocalyptic time when people’s sense of sight can become deadly. She was asked what kind of parent she is and if that informed her role. You can see the video below and here’s what she said.
I now realize what it feels like to be afraid every single day because I love my kids to the point where I’m a little neurotic. What’s happening out in the world. Am I a good mother? When you leave my house, they go to school. I check my phone constantly, did the school call? Are you going to get hurt? They’re leaving with somebody else. I panic. I have to learn how to relax within a world that spins that kind of worry and remind myself and my children that it is also a hopeful place.
After that Sandra pointed to her costar, Trevante Rhodes who was sitting beside her, and said that he has a fearlessness that her partner/boyfriend “has as well.” She said she doesn’t have it and “I’m afraid. I want to make sure that I do everything in my power to protect these beautiful children that I’ve been blessed to raise.” Later on, in the studio, interviewer Sam Rubin said that it’s probably the first time Sandra has referred to Bryan Randall as her boyfriend. They’ve been together since 2015 and I can’t confirm that she’s never called him her boyfriend in an interview before.
As for Sandra being afraid, people forget that a stalker broke into her home in 2014, when her son, Louis, then five, was not there. (It was reported that Louis was with his nanny.) She went into her bedroom, locked a safe door she had specially built after a threat by another stalker, hid in the closet and called 911. I don’t think the intruder had any weapons with him at the time but a raid on the man’s home found multiple machine guns. After that Sandra got a German Shepherd for protection and increased her security. The stalker committed suicide earlier this year during a standoff with police at his home. So this isn’t an abstract idea for Sandra, she’s had legitimately scary things happen to her. I don’t blame her for not bringing any of that up, I wouldn’t and maybe I wouldn’t even think of it during a quick interview. It’s not like Sandra is scared due to the news, she’s protective of her children and that’s understandable after what she’s experienced. Plus she’s famous and is a target.
I read the Bird Box book, it was really good. The movie hopefully will be equally good.
And I totally understand how she feels about her kids. Before kids I didn’t even know what real anxiety was.
I totally understand what she means… Since having kids I see a sense of danger in stuff I never worried about before. I can only imagine what having a real sense of danger of someone invading your home does to you with kids.
Having children means you live with your heart outside of your body, forever. Mine is 35 and I still worry because he has a long and winding highway to travel to and from work. A highway that has seen many accidents and deaths over the years. Sometimes it feels like I only breathe again once I know he is back home. It would likely be easier if I didn’t live with him, but sadly I can no longer afford my own home in our home town (city). So I force myself to remember to breathe, and I pray.
When you have children your heart walks around outside of your chest.
+1
Yes it does.
I can’t remember feeling such anxiety pertaining to another human being – well maybe my sister. I really try not to let it show too much because I want them to grow up w confidence and not second guessing their every move. They’ll benefit from this approach in the long run.
-N
Ditto on this comment. My sister and brother used to give me such anxiety but that is nothing now compared to my son.
I worry every day about my kids. I’m going to be a wreck when they head to college.
Sandra has had numerous stalker incidents. That was the 3rd serious one and that same guy ended up shooting himself even though he shouldn’t have had guns. Her son had a serious kidnapping threat thwarted by the FBI and her daughter was in foster care and likely has some sort of emotional trauma.
I really hope Sandra is seeing a good therapist. She’s been through some real trauma, and while her anxiety is very understandable, there are professionals that can help make things less crippling.
I live in constant fear for my kids. It’s emotionally exhausting.
I just can’t with the movie. She’s more than twice as old as the main character.
But I do know EXACTLY what she means about mother anxiety. It’s very real, and it apparently never ends! I thought at some point you would stop worrying about them. HA! What a laugh! I’m 48 and my mother is 70 and she told me she STILL worries about me!
I know, I don’t understand this casting decision at all. The character is 24. But hey, Sandy is good and the book is brilliant (apart from a flat ending.) Looking forward to seeing what they do with the film!
Is she wearing a wig? (In the video and Netflix banner photo) I genuinely don’t know if her hairline really starts from there.