Spacek returns home to help autism cause
(article published in Daily Progress Friday, March 29, 2002)
by Kate Andrews

Her strawberry-blond hair held in a characteristically loose bun, Sissy Spacek made a quiet return to Charlottesville on Thursday.

Nominated for best actress at last weekend's Academy Awards, Albemarle County resident, Spacek was filming again Thursday, but this time for the small screen.

Her project was a public service announcement for the Virginia Institute of Autism, a Charlottesville school for children afflicted with the developmental disorder. April is Autism Awareness Month.

I have quite a few little friends who are autistic," Spacek said, adding that a family friend whose grandchildren have the disease introduced her to the school.

"I was so impressed with the work they were doing that I wanted to help any way I could," Spacek said. "They've been very inspiring to me."

The 30-second spot, which will air on local television through April, took a couple of hours to film at the school.

In addition to Spacek, the honorary chairwoman of the institute's $3 million capital campaign, several students appear in the ad.

"The kids really were fabulous," said Peggy Halliday, the school's coordinator. " They got a bit excited at some points. It got a little bit noisy."

The ad was a departure from Spacek's film career, which yielded her a best actress Oscar for 1980's "Coal Miner's Daughter" as well as five other nominations, most recently for last year's drama "In the Bedroom."

Spacek attended the ceremony with her two daughters, 14-year-old Madison Fisk and 19-year-old Schuyler Fisk, an actress herself.

"We kept it all in the family," Spacek said. "It was great."