Actor, advocate, and author Julianne Moore speaks her mind on Save the Children, Freckleface Strawberry, and why children shouldn’t act

Julianne Moore (above) recently published her second “Freckleface Strawberry” children’s book. She was in Washington promoting it and her work with Save the Children.

Washington Life: We love diplomats in Washington! How did you come to be the Save the Children’s ambassador for the U.S.?
Julianne Moore: I was in New York at a Save the Children event, and being a mother of two and a children’s book author, I was immediately influenced by what the organization stood for. I decided to get involved.

WL: What is the most rewarding part of being an ambassador?
JM: Knowing that we’ve worked to improve school systems. Save the Children goes where States don’t have the tax dollars for medical programs and tuition, clean schools, and after-school programs. All of these are things that children need. I think that a lot of us in wealthier communities take them for granted.

WL: Your and Mark Shriver’s names were on a recent Save the Children report claiming only seven states are prepared to protect children during disasters. That’s a sobering thought.
JM: The last ten years have been a disaster decade and children have watched or experienced this. We looked at the economic ramifications through a child’s eyes. If his or her family is kicked out of their home because of 12 feet of water or 12 feet of debt, it’s traumatic. We crafted a five-point plan, one point being that we want a new Office of Children’s Advocacy – or a Kid’s Desk – at FEMA.