MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL MAKES HALFWAY HOUSE VISIT

(VIDEO) Maggie Gyllenhaal visited halfway houses and attended rehab programs for role in Sherrybaby.

Maggie Gyllenhaal plays Sherry in Sherrybaby, a former junkie who tries desperately to reclaim the relationship with her young daughter after she is released from prison. Weeks before shooting began Maggie met with several women who went through the same rehab programs as the character she was portraying.

Maggie recalls one particular woman she met who experienced similar struggles as Sherry did in the film.

“I spent a lot of time with these women who were in these halfway houses and I would spend just days either going to their program with them. A lot of times especially the bigger halfway houses there are things like mothering programs or job training programs or anger management programs, AA programs, things like that. And sometimes I’d just sit on the couch for a couple of hours and talk to them. I really didn’t go in with a notepad and a pencil and take details from people. I just spent time with them for weeks before we shot. And then I was kind of living in their world when I started shooting.”

Maggie was ready for a much needed breather from movie making after Sherrybaby but just couldn’t resist the lighthearted comedy Trust The Man. rnrn

“I met a woman who I spent some time with who when I met her had just a few weeks before got her release from prison and was really struggling more than she was willing to admit which is often the case. I think the same thing is true about Sherry. When you’re in such dire straits I don’t think you have the luxury of thinking about or feeling how much pain you’re in.”