Angelina Jolie on Changeling

Based on real events unearthed for the purpose of this adaptation, Changeling is set in mid to late 1920s Los Angeles, and follows single mother Christine Walsh in the aftermath of her son's disappearance. Months into the search the police claim to have discovered the boy, but return to her a child that is not her son. Christine challenges the LAPD and is committed to a psychiatric hospital under the era's laws. With the help of activist Reverend Briegleb (John Malkovich) her case is kept in the spotlight, leading to the capture of child serial killer Gordon Northcott (Jason Butler Harner).

Changeling is based on a true story, albeit a case of the truth being stranger than fiction. How did you feel about the story when you first came to it?
I think if it wasn't true you would all be saying this is the most ridiculous film in the world, this couldn't possibly happen. When we got the script they had Xeroxed all the front pages of the 'LA Times' following the story, which was a very smart thing to do. You would be reading the script and as you turned the page there would be a picture of Christine at the train station with this boy. As you were reading it you were constantly reminded that this was fact. It's the most extraordinary story. And half way through this film a whole other story surfaces. That story could be a film on its own.

Why do you think the story had never been heard of before this film?
It's bizarre. The writer looked through old disks of the 'LA Times', and he read all the stories. It was an amazing discovery. I don't know why it hasn't been told. I don't know if it's just another conspiracy! It was front page of the 'LA Times', many of the front covers. The murderer got the death penalty. It was a giant case. She took the police to court. So it is very strange.

It is such a harrowing story, how was it to portray a character in that situation?
I was pregnant by the end of the shoot, so I remember in the scene in which Gordon Northcott is attacking me and I was trying to break away, people were telling me to jump at him, and I said I didn't think Christine would do that - she's more timid and less physical than I am. I had times when I would sit with [co star] Amy Ryan and look around the hospital and just think about how this really happened. It wasn't that long ago that all these women were locked up without anyone knowing anything about them, except a policeman saying 'you're no good and so you go in there'. It was an eerie feeling. Although, we knew we were explaining there was a victory for these women and we were very happy about that.

You have said before that you can get very emotionally invested in a role, was that the case with this film?
I was so relieved to step away from this movie. I would have my kids there at lunch, and at the end of the day I was so happy I knew where they were, that they were safe. I wanted to just play all the time. During the filming I got pregnant, so by the end of it, I was one hundred percent focused on babies. When it started I wanted to get pregnant. I think it was the high emotion and thinking about children that led to that becoming a real priority for me.

Could this role have only been taken on by someone who's a mother?
Not necessarily. Anyone can relate to loss, it could be their husband or their friend, someone you love being taken from you. I think being a mother did help. Every time I said the word 'son' naturally I felt very emotional.

Next page • "Clint sounds terrifying to an actor"