Kate Bosworth Thanks Mother for Career  4/26/06

Kate Bosworth was ready to give up her big screen debut in The Horse Whisperer - until her mother convinced her to grab the opportunity with both hands.

The young actress, then just 14, was terrified of leaving her home and family, but credits her mother with giving her the courage to pursue an acting career.

She says, "As an only child you either become a loner or you learn to put yourself out there, which my parents encouraged.

"I remember when I got The Horse Whisperer, I was crying because I didn't want to leave school and my friends. I didn't know what was going to happen to me and I was going to go off for three months and I didn't know what I was doing. I was freaking out.

"Mom just said, 'You have to do this. This is going to be an incredible experience. Even if you only do this one movie and never do it again, it doesn't matter. You'll have this moment and you can go: I did that once and it was amazing.'

"She really was incredibly supportive."