It’s been a while since we’ve seen Annette Bening on the big screen in a prominent role, but that’s about to change very soon. Her next film is called Face of Love , and last night the actress, along with her co-star Ed Harris, hit the red carpet for the IFC film premiere.
Bening was enthused to talk about the film with The Hollywood Reporter . For the actress it was a way to work with Ed Harris. “It was a very intimate movie, very intimate story and when you have a partner that you feel comfortable with, it just makes it so easy.”
In Face of Love , which also stars Robin Williams, the plot is centered on Nikki (Annette Bening), a widow who is mourning her deceased husband when she happens to meet a man, Tom, that looks exactly like her deceased husband. Old feelings felt when she met her first love rush back to her and now Nikki has found the love of her life again. Described as a humorous and reflective piece, the director Posin revealed that the plot had a lot to do with a real-life experience his mother had.
“She…was walking across the street at the crosswalk when she saw a man coming toward her. He looked like a carbon copy of my dad years after he had passed away. She told me…and I was very moved by it and I started to obsess about it, dream about it, and eventually write about it.”
In addition to her acting career, Annette Bening has been somewhat outspoken about her transgender son Stephen, who she shares with husband Warren Beatty. Back in 2010 Bening’s son opened up about his gender identity.
“My friends, my peers who I’m lucky to have relationships with a lot of, ever since high school, when I came out and transitioned socially when I was 14 or so. I identify as a trans man, a faggy queen, a homosexual, a queer, a nerd fighter, a writer, an artist and a guy who needs a haircut.”
Before Bening took on the lead of Face of Love, she was in The Kids Are Alright , which examined the dynamics of two teens raised by two mothers. In the film Bening partnered with Julianne Moore.
At the time of the film’s release, Annette spoke about her character at length to The New York Times .
“I felt very comfortable with this woman. I felt like I understood her dilemma, I saw her as being a very healthy person and, I’m not kidding, I just enjoyed the hell out of it.”
Bening’s new film Face of Love opens in theaters on March 7.
