Jennifer Garner: ‘Miracles’ Film Restored ‘Gift’ of Faith

Last updated on: November 21, 2016 at 10:22 am by DeWayne Hamby

Jennifer Garner: ‘Miracles’ Film Restored ‘Gift’ of Faith 2016-11-21T10:22:14-04:00 DeWayne Hamby

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Jennifer Garner during a press event for Miracles From Heaven. Photograph by DeWayne Hamby

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of activity and one of the highlights was being a part of the press junket for the film Miracles From Heaven, which releases this Wednesday. Jennifer Garner (Alias, 13 Going On 30, Elektra) is the star and was on hand to answer questions. A video of Jennifer’s comments has made the rounds and provided the basis for many stories about her faith. She also spoke about what drew her to play the real-life character of Christy Beam.

How did this film affect you spiritually?

Faith is something that I’ve never spoken about, it makes me a little “Aaah!” My parents, it’s just something that we’ve always done and believed and never really talked about. So in that way it stretched me because you can’t be out in front of a movie like this . . . I could lie and not say anything about it but it’s not fair to the film and it’s not true to me. (This experience has) made me really look at my town of Los Angeles and realize that we don’t talk about faith. It is not a conversation that we have between takes on set. On this movie it was. (Faith) has become very political. It has become something that if you’re a person of faith, you are so on the outside that there’s no way to bridge to somebody that’s normal. That’s part of what I love about this movie is that it’s a normal, wonderful family who happened to lean on their faith to guide them through the hardest thing in their lives. But it’s not a movie that’s telling you to have faith, it’s just lifting up people of faith. So that was something that was really important to me. I will say that being around this community, while I’ve always gone to church back home in West Virginia, when we got back to Los Angeles, I was talking to my kids about the movie and they said “Mom, you don’t take us to church” and we went that Sunday and they went today without me [while she was a guest at The Potter’s House]. That decision, that was a direct gift from this movie and for that, I’m very grateful.

Did you notice if there was a spiritual change being on set?

I noticed that there was a real atmosphere of openness. Actors do not tend to sit around and talk about going to church or about faith or how they’re raising their kids in the world with regards to faith. It was really, this was a different experience where it was definitely part of our behind the scenes conversation and maybe part of that was being in Atlanta. But I think most of it was just being part of this story and that was really refreshing and different.

You’re an A-list actor. Why would you do a faith-based movie? As a mom or as family friendly, what’s that about?

This story does such a beautiful job of lifting up this family, lifting up the idea of faith getting you through something impossible, of hope. It’s so inspiring. But in no way, shape or form is it preachy. I love that about this movie. I did not take it because or not because of it being a faith-based film. I was so struck by this story and by the family and the fact that this really happened to a very real family that I could pick up the phone and call.

What lessons do you think the film offers?

This movie definitely is filled with life lessons. I think it really asks you to look at the miracles in your own life and to see what’s happening around you. My mom has always said to me, “If you can’t stop and appreciate a beautiful leaf on a tree, then you’re missing the beauty in the world.” I think my mom’s words play out in this film in a really nice way.

Every project is special, but what is special about this movie?

There’s so much that’s special about the movie and I would say that what makes it special is the real Beam family. It was so special to get to know them and get to be a part. Her book does such a beautiful job but to help them bring that to life in a way that will help more people see this message of hope, of not giving up and having faith, the story of a mother’s love.

How do you think this movie can be transforming for people who see it?

I think if the story was not transformative, the fact that it didn’t happen, there wouldn’t be a book and if the book didn’t hit you just the right way, there wouldn’t be a movie. So it really goes back to a child’s faith and Annabelle marshaling herself through this hard time and her faith inspiring her mom enough to where she can somehow get through. A mother’s love and a child’s faith.

How do you approach a real life character different than a fictional one?

It was the best. I had this cheat sheet (Christy Beam). I had two. I had the book, which I’ve probably read about 100 times. Sometimes I will find myself quoting an entire passage because I’ve read it so much. It’s a fantastic book. I started it on the plane from Boston where I had just met with Sam Nurko to somewhere and I was a total disaster mess. But now my copy has big love from me. The bigger cheat sheet is Christy. I got to sit down with her and say “How do you do this? What do you sing to your kids? What do you like to eat?” I got to ask her all these silly things that we’re always trying to make up and be really specific about for our characters, all actors are. I got to just kind of cheat and be her.

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