Monaghan earns CDL for 'Trucker' role

NEW YORK, Nov. 9 (UPI) -- U.S. actress Michelle Monaghan said she worked hard to earn her commercial driver's license for her role in the independent film "Trucker."

"It was really hard for me," Monaghan admitted in a recent phone interview with UPI. "I can't even drive a 5-speed and me making the movie depended on it. I really made a deal with myself and with (director James Mottern) that I wouldn't make the movie unless I could get the license because it was so informative of who she is as a character that I just knew I wouldn't be able to portray her in the way James deserved her to be and it was very challenging. I had a very patient and brave driving instructor for two and a half weeks and he taught me how to drive the truck and parallel park and drop and hook; the whole kit and kaboodle. I had to learn how to do it. He was amazing."

While the "Eagle Eye" and "Gone Baby Gone" actress confessed she was a little surprised she actually walked away with her commercial driver's license, she said Mottern expressed only unwavering confidence that she would accomplish her goal.

"He said, 'There was never any doubt in my mind, Michelle, that you would get your license,'" the 33-year-old actress recalled. "I remember calling him to tell him I got the license and I was probably near tears and his reaction was like: 'Well, yeah, I knew you were going to. There was never any doubt …' And I was like, 'But I really got it, we can go make this movie now.' And he was like, 'That's why I've kept pre-production going.' … He had more faith in me than I had in myself."

In the movie, Monaghan plays a truck driver who reluctantly reconnects with her estranged son after his father becomes ill.

A big hit on the film festival circuit, "Trucker" is in theaters now.