ET Premiere Coverage

ET Online takes you up close with the stars at the
Hollywood premiere of 'Hope Floats'

SANDRA BULLOCK earned her stardom stripes in the relentless action hit 'Speed' as Annie, the reluctant runaway bus driver. But she won over hearts with more modest films like the romantic comedy 'While You Were Sleeping' and the period drama 'In Love and War.' She stretched her acting chops with John Grisham's powerful 'A Time To Kill' and the suspense thriller 'The Net.' Now BULLOCK has her most emotionally challenging role to date in 'Hope Floats.'

When producer LYNDA OBST (whose impressive credits include 'Sleepless in Seattle' and 'The Fisher King') read the original script by STEVEN ROGERS (writer of the upcoming HBO film "Early Positions," starring Susan Sarandon), she knew she had to make it into a film.

The story follows Birdee Pruitt (BULLOCK, who also executive produces), a former beauty queen married to her high school sweetheart. She seems to have a perfect life until her husband Bill (MICHAEL PARE, who made his debut in 'Eddie and the Cruisers') leaves her for another woman. As her world crashes around her, Birdee has no choice but to pack up her daughter Bernice (MAE WHITMAN) and return to her home in Smithville,Texas.

There she must coe to terms with life as a single parent by first dealing with her own mother, Ramona (GENA ROWLANDS, 'Something To Talk About'), whom she has never really gotten to know, and with Bernice, who desperately misses her father. But a blossoming romance with an old friend named Justin (HARRY CONNICK, JR., in a strong departure from his psychotic role in 'Copycat') gives Birdee room to breathe and rekindles her hope.

FOREST WHITAKER directed the hit 'Waiting To Exhale,' but he's best-known as an actor from such acclaimed films as 'Good Morning, Vietnam' and 'Bird.' He stays behind the camera here, but his passion for acting helps him elicit heartfelt performances from his top-notch cast.

'Hope Floats' -- a touching, quiet alternative to the summer movie onslaught -- surfaces at a theater near you on May 29.

All Pix & Info Taken From ET Online (www.etonline.com).