Academy Award winner Sandra Bullocks stars in Netflix’s latest film ‘The Unforgivable’ where she plays Ruth Slater, a woman who has just been released from prison after 20 years and struggles to rebuild her life.
Speaking with The Knockturnal, Bullock said being a mother herself served as inspiration to play this role.
“I’m a mom and I’m fiercely protective over the most beautiful human beings I know. I also know that once they leave my house I can’t protect them. And I imagine what it might be like for them. So that evokes all kinds of emotion,” she said.
Her character Ruth tries to reconnect with her younger sister, who was put into the foster care system after her arrest.
Bullock, who has two adoptive children, said she can connect through her own experience going through the system.
“Having been through the foster care system and having had to learn so much I didn’t know, and how naive and ignorant I was to a system of poverty, a system of resources that were non-existent, a system that didn’t see these beautiful souls that were born as anything of value, was heartbreaking,” she added.
We also spoke to co-stars Vincent D’Onofrio and Rob Morgan who play Bullock’s attorney and parole officer, respectively.
D’Onofrio plays the husband of Viola Davis’ character and sang her praises.
“She’s phenomenal. There’s no way to get around it. She’s just an extraordinary talent,” D’Onofrio said of Davis.
Morgan said his character serves as the “voice in the film that was the guiding light for [Ruth] to essentially not go back to prison and try to maximize her second chance.”
Director Nora Fingscheidt said, ” I think it’s important to shine a light on people that you usually wouldn’t see. I tend to love stories about outsiders on the margins of society. And it’s also a story about unconditional love, family, second chances.”