AnnaSophia Robb Says She Won’t Apologize for Traumatizing Kids with “Bridge to Terabithia”: ‘I Think It’s Healthy’

Jack SmartThu, November 12, 2026 at 12:36 AM UTC

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AnnaSophia Robb in 2007’s ‘Bridge to Terabithia’Credit: Kristy Griffen/Walt Disney/Walden Media/Kobal/Shutterstock -

AnnaSophia Robb appeared on The Drew Barrymore Show and discussed her 2007 movie Bridge to Terabithia

Although fans have told her the coming-of-age kids film “traumatized” them, Robb said she will not apologize for that

“I think it’s so beautiful to have films, especially for kids, that tackle real-world things,” said the actress

Yes, AnnaSophia Robb knows Bridge to Terabithia had some heavy themes for a kids’ movie. No, she will not apologize for it.

“People walk up to me all the time, and they’re like, ‘We cried in the movie theater, and you traumatized me in childhood,’ ” Robb said on the Wednesday, Nov. 11 episode of The Drew Barrymore Show of the 2007 movie.

“Will I apologize?” she pondered. “No.”

AnnaSophia Robb on ‘The Drew Barrymore Show’ on Wednesday, Nov. 11.Credit: Drew Barrymore Show

Bridge to Terabithia, in which Robb, 32, costarred with Josh Hutcherson, was adapted from the hit 1977 novel by Katherine Paterson. It follows two teen friends who create a magical fantasy world to cope with their troubled reality, which ultimately ends in tragedy.

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When host Drew Barrymore indicated that the coming-of-age story had some big themes, Robb agreed, saying, “I think it’s healthy” for young viewers.

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“I think it’s so beautiful to have films, especially for kids, that tackle real-world things,” said the I Play Rocky star. “It deals with fantasy and imagination and friendship and hardship at home and not fitting in and finding your best friend and then losing that.”

Robb was a big fan of Paterson’s novel, which was written after a best friend of the author’s son “died unexpectedly,” as the actress recalled. “So she wrote this book for him to try to explain, ‘Why do bad things happen to good people?’ Which is just such a gift to generations.”

Josh Hutcherson, AnnaSophia Rob in ‘Bridge to Terabithia’Credit: Kristy Griffin/Buena Vista Pictures

In fact, Robb’s affinity for the novel is how she booked the lead role in the Gábor Csupó-directed screen version of Bridge to Terabithia. “I read the book, and I wrote a letter to the producers because I loved the book,” she said. “And that’s how I got in this movie, because I was just a fan of the book.”

At the 2008 Young Artist Awards, Robb and Hutcherson, 34, were among Bridge to Terabithia‘s five wins out of five nominations. The beloved film was adapted by David L. Paterson and Jeff Stockwell, and costarred Robert Patrick and Zooey Deschanel.

Robb stars with Anthony Ippolito in the Sylvester Stallone biopic I Play Rocky, in theaters now. Among her upcoming projects is the Will Smith-led thriller Supermax.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”