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MICHELLE'S MOMENT She stole scenes in hit films like Gone Baby Gone and Mission: Impossible III, and now former Columbia College student Michelle Monaghan is having a major 2014 starting with her role in HBO's much-anticipated True Detective. In a lively talk with fellow actress Radha Mitchell, Monaghan shares the joy she takes in balancing her roles as a wife, mother, and in-demand actress. PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN BOWEN SMITH F ifteen years ago, Michelle Monaghan was a journalism student at Columbia College ("I think I got an A in a couple of classes," she quips), before the Iowa native left the Windy City for Manhattan to pursue an acting career. In years since, Monaghan, 37, has garnered attention for her roles in TV's Boston Public and blockbuster films like Mission: Impossible III, Gone Baby Gone, and Source Code. Now the mother of two (in October, Monaghan and husband Peter White welcomed son Tommy Francis) is moving full steam ahead into 2014, beginning with her role in HBO's star-studded series True Detective and upcoming Ryan Murphy project Open, as well as film performances in Better Living Through Chemistry, A Many Splintered Thing, and as the lead in indie drama Fort Bliss. In an exclusive conversation with fellow actress Radha Mitchell (her 94 costar in the recent release Expecting), Monaghan reflects on motherhood, her Midwest roots, and the movie stars who still inspire her. RADHA MITCHELL: How are you? MICHELLE MONAGHAN: I'm good! I'm actually in a total baby haze because I gave birth to a baby boy five weeks ago. RM: Yay! How is motherhood the second time around? MM: Listen, it's always a challenge. When I had my daughter Willow, it was a whole new ball game, trying to figure out where is this job shooting, how long is it shooting for, can I be away from home? My husband Pete is such a hands-on father—I could not do it without him, and fortunately his career allows him to work from home, so the balancing act is a lot easier. RM: Weren't you pregnant when you were shooting the MICHIGANAVEMAG.COM 094-097_MA_FEAT_CS_Winter_14copy.indd 94 1/9/14 5:20 PM