About one in every 10 U.S. adults is functionally illiterate. That means that 32 million Americans would struggle to read this sentence. And around the world, an estimated 758 million people never learn how to read.
It’s an issue close to Julianne Moore’s heart, and the actor’s genuine passion for promoting global literacy was palpable as we spoke recently on International Literacy Day.
“It’s a fundamental human right,” she said. “The ability to read and function in the world gives you access to all kinds of knowledge and at once makes you feel less alone. You enter into kind of our human community.”
“I became an actor because I was a reader,” the Oscar winner added. “It was a way for me to kind of enter into a world where I felt like I was in the story.”
It’s no surprise, then, that Moore has teamed up with Project Literacy, a campaign raising awareness about global illiteracy and working to ensure that by 2030, every child born will have the opportunity to learn how to read.
Moore, who herself has written several books for kids, spoke with Parade.com about the global illiteracy epidemic and what people can do to help.
She also talked about working with her friend Colin Firth in the upcoming spy comedy Kingsman: The Golden Circle and dished on her TV project in the works with Robert De Niro and David O. Russell. And, she opened up about the “big adjustment” she’s had to make since her son, Caleb, left for college this fall.
What do you want people to understand about the importance of literacy?
Illiteracy is linked to every global development issue we have worldwide, linked to poverty, crime, and life expectancy and health care and employment and gender equality—all of these things are affected by being illiterate. I would like to encourage everyone to go to the Project Literacy website and check it out, and read more information about literacy in the United States and all over the world, and also find out what you can do in your own community to really help change things. It’s nice to know that we are members of this global community and this is something that we can fix. I really, truly, truly believe it.
You’ve written several books for kids. What inspired you to write for young readers?
Obviously, I am first and foremost an actor, that’s what I consider myself to be. But to be able to participate in a world that has meant so much to me, the world of language and story and narrative, it was just something that I sort of started to do and it was a lot of fun. So I like it, I like being with the kids, I like being with educators, and it’s just been something that’s been really fun for me to do.
One of your upcoming film projects, Wonderstruck, is based on a young adult novel by Brian Selznick, and your co-star, Oakes Fegley, is pretty young himself. How do you approach working with kids?
It’s always interesting because they sometimes approach acting in a completely different way. The most important thing for me when I work with kids is to make sure that they feel safe and comfortable, and that they know that what we’re doing is pretend. And so I think once you create an environment when you can enjoy yourself and you know you’re living in an imaginary world, then everybody feels good.
You have several movie projects coming up right now, including playing the villain, Poppy, in Kingsman: The Golden Circle. Can you tell me about that?
I can’t tell you a lot because they’re trying to keep it under wraps, but I can tell you that I had a really good time. Colin Firth is a friend of mine, somebody I adore, so I was glad to have the opportunity to work with him again. It was fun to be in London this summer and it’s a great film, a really crazy and imaginative and entertaining film.
Did you like getting the chance to play an evil villain?
I always tell people that they don’t think they’re bad. They just think they’re doing the right thing! [laughs] It’s really everybody else’s perception of them that makes them seem bad. So she thinks she’s right!
You and and Robert De Niro are working on a drama series with David O. Russell. Are there any sneak peeks you can give us?
David approached both me and Bob and said, “I have this idea for something, I want to develop it, are you guys in?” And we both were like, “Absolutely.” I love David and we’ve always kind of looked for something to do together, and obviously, you know, I’m crazy about Robert De Niro, and I’m so excited at the idea of being able to work with him. But right now it’s in the very early development stages.
Your son, Caleb, left for college this fall. Is that a big adjustment, getting used to him being away?
It is a big adjustment. I mean, we’re so proud of him and he’s really loving school. We’re so happy with everything he’s accomplished. But it is a big, big transition, and a big transition for us as a family. You know, it completely changes the dynamic of even your day. So we’re still getting used to it. As a matter of fact, we’re all going to go visit him this weekend. Because he said we could come and visit and we said, all right, we’re coming and taking you out to dinner. We’re really looking forward to that!
On another note, you’re a brand ambassador for L’Oreal. What are some of your tips for keeping your skin fresh and healthy?
You stay out of the sun! That’s my No. 1 tip. My mother had red hair…we always had to wear hats and walk on the shady side of the street. And the stuff that made me crazy as a kid has made me so grateful as an adult. So, I still wear a hat all the time, I still wear sunscreen every day, which is incredibly dull, but you can get a face cream…that has sunscreen in it. Believe me, it pays off. I promise you.
Julianne Moore Reveals Why She Loves Her Life and Luck
View the original at Parade or follow us on Twitter, Facebook or Google+