Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers Feel Love for Music in ‘August Rush’

Keri Russell leaves her five-month-old son, River, with a babysitter so she can attend the NYC premiere of her heartwarming family drama August Rush, in theaters today. In the film, which also stars Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Robin Williams, Terrence Howard and Freddie Highmore, music is the tie that binds an orphaned child to his parents.

“You make great music when you are in love or when you’re falling out of love,” Keri says.

According to director Kirsten Sheridan, this new mom is very hands-on. “I saw her with her little fella when we were in the hotel,” she tells me. “Her own mom was there minding the baby. I don’t think she has a whole team of nannies. She has no entourage. Everybody says she’s the most down-to-earth person they’ve ever met, and it actually is true.”

Here comes Jonathan, who has girlfriend Reena Hammer in tow. Jonathan tells me it was strange reteaming with his Mission Impossible 3 co-star Keri because they’re good friends.

“It can be difficult when you’re friends playing lovers when you’ve both made films before and you’ve both gone out with your respective other halves,” he tells me. “We’ve traveled together on private planes, and then they say ‘you have to kiss’ and it’s really awkward. It’s like kissing your best friend's wife. It’s kind of enjoyable.”

Zany Robin Williams gets animated when he talks about filming the movie in NYC.

“I love shooting in New York,” he says. “I went to school in New York. Anytime I get a chance to do a movie in New York like Fisher King or Awakening, it’s the best experience of my life. Anytime you shoot a movie in Toronto they have extras going, ‘Yeah I’m from Brooklyn, eh,’ and you can’t do that. New York is a character. New York is the real thing. Music surrounds you here. It’s like Gershwin… flowing. Uptown, downtown, you get in a cab, it just keeps you moving.”

Terrence, who brings his wife and children, admits it’s important to understand your parents in order to understand yourself.

“You never know who you are until you know where you come from and where you are at present," he says. "That’s what happens to a lot of these children in orphanages or without their parents for whatever given reason. They’re looking for their sense of self. They have no common frame of reference to compare.”

Let's hope Freddie is ready for his closeup, because it's showtime.