I wanted to share some of my feelings about loosing Brittany Murphy.  Brittany and I met for the first time and worked together last year on my film Tribute for Lifetime - a part of the Nora Roberts anthology, It was a wonderful part for a young woman and I wanted Brittany because of her talent and because she was so right for the part: A young woman who has been a child star seeking to anchor herself in her own history and family., healing the damage done by hollywood, who finds love and becomes the inspiration for a superhero.

I fell in love with her immediately. First of all she was such a dedicated actress, caring about all aspects of the character and film.  She loved to work, to create and possessed a wonderful imagination. She also surprised me, for example she was so sweet and homey. It's not what you expect of a staerlet, but she was more a woman and mother type - always looking out for everyone else's nourishment, rest and stress then someone demanding it for herself.

She was also deeply in love with her husband Simon who worked on the film shooting terrific stills, helping with makeup and hair and generally gaffing Brittany's schedule in the most unselfish way. Their connection was warm, secure and beautiful to all of us who travel to locations alone and like to see couples working together. It was so great that they had each other.

And Brittany was fun, funny, outgoing and always game for a joke. We'd laugh about so many things from silly poses and pictures, to crazy work hours and even challenging circumstances like the sudden snowstorm in new Orleans in Oct. that threatened to shut us down.

Brittany and I had a special connection because of being women in the business )her experience was beyond her years and she had gained wisdom because of it) and we shared a commitment to good acting. I was proud to call her my friend and I looked forward to what she would do in the future as she matured and grew as an artist. It was shocking when she died. I felt robbed of a friend and talent, someone who could have contributed so much more. She was an artist and a person who gave everything she had to the business and her work. I can't help but think that part of the stresses that may have contributed to her death were caused by this business that we both loved but that can be cruel. I will miss her.

Martha