Were you familiar with American Girl before the film?
I have five kids and about 20 nieces and nephews—it's been all around me for ages. We've been taking my 8-year-old daughter, Lily, to the store in Chicago since she was, frankly, much too young.
So your kids were happy about you taking this role.
They're thrilled. My boys loved seeing me in Three Musketeers and the Batman movies, so it's nice to do a film that has my girls so excited.
What did your real-life experience as a parent bring to the film?
Anyone with kids will tell you, you'll do anything to protect and care for them. I know what those emotions are like for this character struggling through the Depression.
He has to be away from his family for a long time.
I really related to that. I love shooting on location, but it's tough being away from my kids. Thank God for Apple iChat, which has video. Lily lost a baby tooth when I was in Budapest, and I got to see the whole thing.
