In the new film “Audrey’s Children,” releasing today from Blue Harbor Entertainment, Natalie Dormer (“Game of Thrones,” “The Hunger Games”) transforms into Dr. Audrey Evans, a pioneering pediatric oncologist whose groundbreaking work revolutionized childhood cancer treatment and inspired the creation of the Ronald McDonald House.
Dormer was drawn to this unsung hero and struck by how little has been said about her in popular culture so far.
“I couldn’t believe we all didn’t know her as a household name,” Dormer said. “She understood that a sick child means a sick family, and we should be wrapping our arms around entire families.”
The film reveals extraordinary details of Evans’ life that Dormer found almost unbelievable during her initial script reading.
“I was googling as I read, thinking, ‘This can’t be true,'” she recalled. “But it was. She invited people to stay in her own home, brought in animals to cheer up children, and wrote countless cards to develop a groundbreaking staging system for cancer treatment.”
The actress attributes Evans’ extraordinary determination to her “profound religious faith” and personal experiences. As a churchgoer, it was one particular message that set her forth on her unwavering and history-making mission.
“She heard a sermon where she felt that a woman who cared would be ‘called,’ and I think for her, that sort of it resonated with her, and she thought, ‘That’s what I am. I’m a woman who cares’,” she said.
Fueled by faith in God and a heart of compassion, Evans was resolved to overcome obstacles.
“The odds were so against her, statistically and culturally,” Dormer noted. “But she was able to get up every day and ask the question from another angle until she got a yes. She never gave up. And that has to be on some level due to her faith.”
A pivotal moment in Evans’ journey was her own childhood experience with illness. Having spent a year in the hospital around age 12, Dormer believes this experience deeply influenced Evans’ compassionate approach to pediatric care.
“I think if you’ve been a sick child yourself, remembering being alone and isolated and scared, it stays with you,” Dormer said. “I think she didn’t want children to feel the way she felt.”
Dormer’s preparation for the role was extensive, immersing herself in Evans’ world through comprehensive research and personal connection. She was welcomed into the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), where Evans worked, meeting doctors, nurses, and technicians who had worked alongside her.
“I got all the stories,” Dormer explained. “I searched for her tone, the way she moved, talked, conducted meetings, and interacted with children. I did my best to submerge myself in that information.”
A highlight for the actress was meeting the real Evans shortly before her passing, where she promised the doctor that she would give put as much care into the role as Evans had put into the children she treated.
“It was a great privilege to meet Audrey before she went to where she would say is ‘the better place,’” Dormer said. “To have that connection as an actor at that very specific time in Audrey’s life has been profound–and I don’t think that is too strong a word–as well as a gift. I connected intimately to Audrey’s life, and it was a singular honor to bear witness to the end of her journey.”
“Audrey’s Children” not only celebrates Evans’ professional achievements but also highlights her personal life, including a touching late-life love story. Evans married her longtime colleague Dan at ages 79 and 82, getting married at 7:30 am and returning to hospital rounds by 8 am.
Dormer’s performance has been praised for its authenticity, with people who knew Evans telling her, “You got it. It was like she was back to life.” For the actress, this represents the pinnacle of portraying a real-life character.
Beyond the personal story, Dormer sees the film as a critical statement about supporting medical research and children’s healthcare. She urges audiences to see the movie, especially in light of recent funding cuts to national health services.
“Our children are our future,” she emphasized. “This film is fundamentally about supporting future cancer research for children.”
The movie showcases Evans’ holistic approach to healthcare, demonstrating how one person’s compassion and determination can transform countless lives. From developing innovative cancer treatment protocols to creating supportive environments for families facing medical crises, Evans emerges as a true unsung hero.
“I know in my heart that mo ments like I experienced on this film won’t collide in my career again,” she said. “I can’t really use enough adjectives or hyperbole to describe the experience of making this film.”
“Audrey’s Children,” directed by Ami Canaan Mann and starring Natalie Dormer, Jimmi Simpson, Clancy Brown, and Brandon Micheal Hall, releases in theaters today from Blue Harbor Entertainment. For more information on the film, click here.
Watch the interview with Natalie Dormer and DeWayne Hamby below.
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