"There are things happening in my life right now that are really awesome, where I'm starting to understand that my baby is going to be able to look at these pictures and look at footage of these premieres and say, 'Wow. My mom was doing that at that time.' So I am realizing the legacy more than I ever understood. And that's exciting."

In John Q, Heche plays stern hospital administrator Rebecca Payne, who is faced with the unenviable task of refusing a lifesaving heart transplant to a dying boy who has no insurance. Washington plays the boy's father.

"As an actress you like playing different parts, so it's kind of a fun challenge because not only do you play a role, you play a part in a movie. If I'm unsympathetic, then that allows the audience to be sympathetic to the people whom they're supposed to be sympathetic toward."

Heche admired the script, which was directed by Nick Cassavetes (whose own daughter has a congenital heart disease), for its commentary on the shortcomings of the health-care system in this country. "Certainly when you start doing movies, and they're shooting in Canada, your whole world is opened up, because you learn that health care is taken care of in other countries. We don't have that gift here, so I am really enjoying being a part of this movie and shining a light a little bit on this problem."