Rosie's Take

" But from comedy to news to acting Rosie O'Donnell has done a dollar and lover hater you cannot deny that she has been a tireless crusader for children. For over twenty years in establishing her own children's foundation in 1997. Why a chance to sit down with Rosie yesterday we talked about everything from president Obama. To her feud with Barbara Walters to her feelings about the cocktail bomb. And we also talked about her new TV movie America. That's airing this weekend Rosie is the executive producer and she's the star of the film which chronicles the journey. Of one teenage boy -- the US Foster care system. Take a look."

" Rising high thanks so much for being here you know I'm excited to see this movie airs on Saturday night on lifetime television it's called America. We haven't seen in a film in awhile why did you this one. Well the Foster parent when I read the book get really resonated with me and I think a lot of people are not aware. Of what's going on in our country with half a million Foster kids and what happens to them when they age out of the system 30000 of them do every year. And I just wanted to to show the people what's going on in this this film seem to really. Jumble the page when I read the book I saw the movie in my mind and and I just wrote the script and I know you actually start -- you played doctor -- Therapist to help to -- the lead character America a kid named America was going to be out Foster care system. Knew you had an all at around doctor being your -- somebody who really made an impact on you as well the new. Yes it was math teacher 1007 grade at public school Long Island and my mom died when thousands of strayed and there was a lot of these -- my family and she really took me under her wing and mother and me and loved me back to life and never let go and when -- did this part you know initially was written for a man and I had hoped to directed and have John Leguizamo in the movie but when I ended up in it. And not directing it she was a character that I -- playing in it -- what's her name and she died. Four years ago breast cancer but I just opened the school here in New York. On 45 street and in the marital arts center in her honor while. And I'll ask you could be how you found a lead character they -- kid to play America because it's an unbelievable stories and not some actor. No we -- in a diner four days before we started shoot weekend. I was with the other producer and so now that's the kid who should do it needs like when you walk out of that table and one of the people at the table so you Roseanne Barr I was like close enough and I looked over and said this is what we're doing are you interested in. He showed up -- the addition and knocked it out of the park and a lot of credit goes to lifetime for agreeing to. Finance a film without an actor in the lead role you know it's just a normal kid and I think he he does phenomenal it's a gutsy move into up in this subject Foster parenting there is not covered -- see a lot of this in the news -- good for -- and good for you. While I had you want to ask you on the topic of mother because we haven't heard from you in awhile you know we've been here for every -- and the -- but you've got to be following this whole October -- saga. And what are what are your thoughts that we think about one. Yeah I think she has some mental illness issues and I think we need to show that compassion in some way and mostly compassion for those kids and you know it's a tragedy all around and I think the media coverage doesn't help but only exacerbates are already fragile mental state. Do you think is going to lead to more women doing this because you know they -- the attention she's getting. Now I think it takes somebody with a severe kind of issue an order sent to do what she did I don't think she did it purposely with the intention of getting. This kind of media. You know. Tsunami. Now I just think that that was the result but she's obviously you know of fragile mental health."

" That you know something there are heard a thing or two about media tsunami from here a year of of Yale which is you -- made headlines the entire year you were on I guess it's it's spent a couple years now. Do you miss it at all do you do you mystical."

" Both. You and you know you get to be friends with people truthfully and then every move practically do every movie do every drug they show you do. You get really close to the creek cast the crew of the backstage people and you know that's part of it that I -- and that some meetings last week in Los Angeles about possibly doing another daytime show. More oriented on real people and real issues as opposed to celebrities and and who knows that may be something that comes up in the future but you know I do miss that that feeling of being a part of some of the crew and now that all my kids at school and I have nothing to do all day seems like it might be good time even Barbara the whole feud that's over. Yeah actually I didn't don't have prizes you play what I wore. Love loss of what I wore down in the village and as a small small theater and who was there. Barbara Walters and she came backstage and -- low and you know I actually really really care about -- I have for a lot of years and there was an awkward situation there but. You know -- I've -- I knew it before the show and I know after and the same is true with joy and you know the only -- I don't see really is Elizabeth but I didn't really know where before that program and you know that's what it was as what you saw."

" And before -- I have to ask you revenue president now I know you're no fan of President Bush. What do you think about how our new president is doing any any things -- any disappointments."

" No disappointments I feel tremendously optimistic and I feel that he is restored America to its rightful place in the in the world and dignity and you know democracy I think is thriving once again and win the beacon of hope that we always have been. And I am so unbelievably grateful that he's an office what's next for you Rosie. I don't know Woolsey you know -- going to be 47 and march and every year to me as a surprise. My mom died at 39 so every year I get my physical and they go. Now you're right you're healthy and like while it's like at both this year had a a so I don't know you know -- something comes up -- say yeah let's try that so we'll say."

" But let's visit as I said before this is an important issue and it it gets almost no coverage in media so good for you for doing a movie I know I'll be watching it Saturday night lifetime television 9 PM eastern. Rosie O'Donnell thanks so much for coming on thank you Megyn Kelly -- the best. That it interesting she's not a new projects now she may have her own talk show another show of sorts wreck havoc that you have to wait to see whether it happens but. What you think was that that the Rosie that you remember. America's Newsroom at foxnews.com."