Julianne Moore On the Real-Life Inspiration For Her Role in ‘Still Alice’

Meeting Alzheimer’s patients was “devastating” for Julianne Moore, who plays a woman afflicted with the condition in her upcoming film, Still Alice.

In the new issue of Closer, the 53-year-old actress reveals being close in age to her character, as well as many of the women she met while doing extensive research for the role, really brought the disease home.

“[Writer Lisa Genova] made the character 50 [years-old] and not 80, because that way you’re able to talk about Alzheimer’s as an actual disease, not a condition of aging,” Julianne tells Closer.

She remains friends with a patient she met named Sandy, who was diagnosed at 45 and “had a hell of a time coping with the disease,” Julianne recently shared. “One of the reasons I connected with her is that she has red hair — we look very similar.”

Julianne tells Closer, “What was wonderful was how generous people were in sharing their [stories] with me.”

For more from Julianne about her inspiration for the role, pick up the new issue of Closer, on stands now!