Jennifer Garner's new movie "Miracles From Heaven" has not only brought out a different side of her, but has allowed her to talk and be more open about her faith. In the film, Garner plays a mother whose faith is restored when her sick daughter falls from a tree and is miraculously cured, and she admits that the story has inspired her.
"Miracles From Heaven" is based on the true story of Texas mom Christy Beam, and thanks to the overall message of the film, the 43-year-old actress has changed her perspective on things. She and her family even now attend a Methodist church each week, and she hopes that viewers will feel the same way when they watch the film.
"Christy is such a strong woman and she's been tested by fire," Garner told Christian Post. "There is no fire like having a child who's ill, who's suffering and this role changed me because it gave me a sense of that perspective, that I was pretending and that she had gone through something for real and people are still going through...I will be so thrilled if it lifts people's hearts in that way, if it asks anyone to re-examine their own faith and their own beliefs, that would be the pie in the sky for me. I can't think of anything better."
Garner chose to take on this role not only because of the message, but because of Christy. "I love the message in the film, and I love the message of hope," she explained. "I love how inspiring the film is. But I also really connected with Christy just from reading the book and from reading the script, and I wanted to honor what she and Annabel and the whole family went through."
As someone who grew up going to church every Sunday but stopped as she got older, Garner wants people to understand that she never "lost who she was." Doing this film allowed her to open up about her faith, especially with her three children, Violet, 10, Seraphina, 7, and Sam, 4. While at the L.A. premiere Wednesday night, the actress explained how she is now able to talk about her beliefs in a way she had never been able to.
"It has always been quietly a part of me," she said. "I'm still getting used to the idea of talking about it."
She then went on to talk more about Christy and what this role mean to her. "I love the Christy Beam story, I love the story of hope, I love the story of encouragement," she added. "I love how inspirational this story is, and I love being a part of putting her story out into the world."
Director Patricia Riggen knew from the very start that Garner would be the perfect person to play Christy. "I not only looked at her talent, but what a beautiful soul that she has," Riggen said at the premiere. "That was a very important aspect for this character. She was going to play a mom of three, and she was going to play such a loving character. She needed to be so loving with the new actresses that she was going to play against. So, that generosity, that big heart that she has, I thought was a very important part in order to cast her."
Her on-screen husband Martin Henderson agreed. "I just have so much respect for her as a human being, first and foremost, and then as an actress," he added. "She is just such a kind-hearted, pure person with so much warmth. Whenever you meet people like that in real life it's hard, because they are so big hearted it melts your heart."
"Miracles From Heaven" opens in theaters March 16, 2016.
