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It's been a difficult 15 months for actress Kelly Preston. Ever since her 16-year-old son Jett (with husband John Travolta) died from a seizure on Jan. 2, 2009, Preston has kept relatively out of the spotlight. Now the grieving mom is getting a chance to keep her "mind on something else": by playing a mom in her latest film, The Last Song, based on the Nicholas Sparks drama of the same name and costarring Miley Cyrus.
"Acting for me is very cathartic and it gets me out of my head," the actress, 47, tells iVillage in an exclusive interview. "I'm able to live sort of in another world and in another person for a time being and just work through things I think, which is really nice. And it keeps you extroverted. Even though you're very much looking in at times because there's a lot of self-discovery, it also keeps you very extroverted. It keeps your mind on something else."
Off set, Preston and Cyrus (who already knew Preston and hand-picked her to play her mom), did plenty of bonding. There were "the times that we'd just be giggling. And she was just falling in love with Liam." Liam, of course, is Liam Hemsworth, the Aussie star who happens to be Cyrus' main squeeze on and off set. Preston says she noticed the spark between the young lovebirds early on during filming. "They definitely were good friends to begin with, but there was a definite spark and electricity between the two of them," she explains.
Watch our exclusive video to find out why Preston's daughter, Ella, 9, wanted her to take the role, her many "firsts" with Cyrus and why she thinks Miley and her man are a perfect match.
PLUS:
- Miley Cyrus & Liam Hemsworth Make First Red Carpet Appearance as a Couple
- Kelly Preston: 'It's Just Too Soon' to Talk About Jett's Death
Have you been impressed by Kelly Preston's strength since her son's death? Chime in below!
