Oscar-winning actor Julia Roberts sat down with acclaimed film director, screenwriter, author and director of Wonder Stephen Chbosky, and author of Wonder, R.J. Palacio to talk about the new highly acclaimed film out this weekend
With Auggie’s story now hitting the big screen Julia, R.J. and Stephen highlight to Good Housekeeping the most meaningful lessons they’ve taken to heart in their own families.
The movie, a middle-grade novel that adults love too and that has been on best-seller lists for over two years, is the story of Auggie Pullman, a 10-year-old boy who was born with severe facial differences. Having been tutored until now by his mother (played by Julia), Auggie is entering school in the fifth grade — a change that’s stressful for any child, but especially so for one who has spent his life watching others look away.
On how Julia initially found out about Wonder: “It was getting tricky in my house to have a nighttime chapter book everyone would like, so I bought Wonder, and I could not put it down. I read it to the three kids [Hazel and Phinneaus, now 13, and Henry, now 10], and they were all as knocked out as I had been. I remember calling my agent after I read the book and saying, ‘I’ll play the mom!”
Wonder author R.J. Palacio on the inspiration for the book, after her younger son, then 3, cried in fear after seeing a child who had severe craniofacial differences: “As I pushed the stroller away, I heard the mom say in as sweet and calm a voice as you can imagine, “OK, guys, I think it’s time to g,” And that just got to me.. what could I be teaching my children so they could understand how to respond better next time? I was disappointed in myself. I started writing Wonder that very night.”
Julia on how we can all work to be better humans in general: “I think we need to stop criticizing. Honestly, it’s become a sport — at lunch, online, wherever. “I can’t believe the way she’s wearing her hair,” or “He looks so.. “It’s all so petty, and we’re grown-up people. There have to be more interesting things to note about one another.. and I’m talking to myself here too, because I find the sarcasm and the criticism and stuff like that very humorous, but there’s a time when you go, “Well, why don’t I say all the true and kind things”
Julia and R.J. on the power of kindness: “My mom gave me unconditional love,” says R.J. “I think that’s the one thing we can really do for our kids. Not to say that we have to be blind to their little quirks and faults, but it helps you in life.” Julia agrees, but adds, “I think some people confuse unconditional love with spoiling. None of my kids would think I have a problem with that distinction. I do love them unconditionally, and I try, when they do something wrong, to say, “This doesn’t change the amount of love in this house for you, but you’ve got to do your homework.’ Because I think that also makes a child feel safe.”
www.goodhousekeeping.com/juliarobertswonder
Pictured:
R.J. Palacio, Julia Roberts, Stephen Chbosky