Toni Collette: new movie is beautiful

Toni Collette found filming A Long Way Down "heartbreaking".

The 41-year-old actress plays Maureen in the movie adaptation of author Nick Hornby's novel.

Her alter ego is first introduced when she is close to committing suicide after struggling to cope with her severely disabled son. However, she is quickly saved by three strangers - played by Pierce Brosnan, Aaron Paul and Imogen Poots - who are also planning to end their lives.

Toni was able to empathise with her character and found the tale incredibly moving.

"I thought the story was so beautiful and real and funny, and so heartbreaking. I loved all the characters," she explained to northdevonjournal.co.uk

"Maureen's given up everything to have her son and I guess, out of all of them, her idea of leaving life is the most altruistic one, because she's not sad or depressed, she just wants her son to be taken care of properly and doesn't think she's doing a good job."

Toni has been praised for her portrayal of characters in the past, such as Muriel Heslop in 1994 movie Muriel's Wedding. Despite this she admits she still gets anxious when she begins a new project.

"I get nervous on the first day of a film, just because it's a new bunch of people and it's the first time you're really trying out a character," she confessed.

When she isn't in front of the camera Toni enjoys being with her children Sage, six, and Arlo, two, who she has with husband Dave Galafassi. She also makes sure to invest time in herself.

"How does anyone [balance work with parenting]' It's just life, you get on with it and it's all important to me... I'm a mom, so I love spending any down time with the kids. I enjoy what my children enjoy. I enjoy them being happy," she smiled.

"If I do have time to myself, I like something grounding that brings you back to you, something centering."