conversations around getting better and
getting help. Not just soldiers, but anyone
who’s struggled with PTSD, depression, or
any sort of mental health issue. There is help
available to everyone.
You also have a role in the upco-
ming film 12 Strong, starring Chris
Hemsworth, Michael Pena, and Michael
Shannon. Can you give us some insight
into your character?
12 Strong is based on a non-fiction book
called Horse Soldiers, which follows a group
of special forces into Taliban controlled
territory just after September 11. I play the
wife of one of the soldiers, sending her
husband, played by Michael
Shannon, off to an unknown
place doing unknown things.
Family is never told where
special forces are going to
protect them. It was
challenging to get back into
the mindset of post-September
11. It was such a scary time.
“Everyone
needs a
little extra
warmth this
time of year.”
and humanness. I was deeply moved by it
and just wanted any little thing to do with it.
Did you get a chance to work with
Miles Teller and Amy Schumer, who
have leading roles in Thank You for
Your Service?
I really only worked with Beulah Koale, who
is wonderful in this movie. He pulls off an
incredibly complex role of someone battling
inner demons that he never gets the
opportunity to verbalize because he
physically cannot. He pulls off the
emotional center of this movie beautifully
and in a way a lot of soldiers will identify
with. I think this is the power of
movie-making. When people get to see
themselves and their struggles reflected in a
positive way, a real conversation can be had
and real healing can begin.
What do you hope viewers take away
from the film? Does the film have a
special meaning for you?
It does. I hope that we begin to see that
mental health is physical health, that telling
people to toughen up, man up, or shake it
off just doesn’t cut it. I hope families can
see themselves in this film and begin real
www.clichemag.com
What was it like working
with Michael Shannon in 12 Strong?
Our scene is very emotional and he gave me
a lot of space and was incredibly generous.
He’s one of the people I was talking about
earlier. He’s a theater guy and understands
the ensemble work ethic and sets a lovely,
diligent, and creative tone for the set. I loved
every minute of working with him. Fingers
crossed I get another opportunity.
You are also a passionate philanthro-
pist. Can you tell us about the some of
the organizations you support and why
they are important to you?
My husband and I always Adopt-a-Family
instead of exchanging gifts for Christmas.
We really enjoy the feeling of being Scrooge
after the ghosts visit him, shopping and
wrapping gifts for our community instead of
just for each other. We find it really connects
us to the true meaning of the holiday and
keeps us away from the consumerism this
holiday has come to mean. And, this sounds
very Martha Stewart, but I also usually clean
out our linen closet and coat closet and we
donate our old linens and blankets to local
animal shelters and coats to Goodwill.
Everyone needs a little extra warmth
this time of year. We keep it local in
our community!
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