Mo’Nique, fresh from her Golden Globe nomination and SAG award nomination for her searing performance in the film “Precious,” says that the breakthrough role has done more than put her on the map as a serious actress. The preparation and character study she did in order to convincingly play the part of Precious’ abusive mother made her confront and ultimately understand the abuse she suffered as a child, at the hands of her own brother. Mo’Nique says she now forgives her brother for molesting her and hopes he will get help.

Mo’Nique is going through a very public forgiveness in her new movie Precious – a performance that was not easy but has earned her a Golden Globe nomination.

“I know Mary Jones. I know that monster,” Mo’Nique told Joy Behar on her show Tuesday night of her character, a mentally ill, abusive mother. “That character for me, in my life, was my older brother.”

The actress, 42, revealed in 2008 to Essence that she was sexually molested at 7 years old by her teenage brother. “I didn’t tell my parents until I was 15-years-old. [Unlike Precious] I had my family, but when you go through that as a child, you really don’t know which way to turn,” she said.

Although she opened up to her parents as a teen, Mo’Nique, who has not spoken to her brother in years, said she didn’t really confront her past until she was an adult. “I’m angry. I’m mad. I’m hurt. I’m crying, but doing this movie made me say, ‘You know what? I forgive.’ I forgive and I wish he would get the help that he needs, so no one else will go through it,” she said.

She adds: “Understanding Mary Jones in her sickness really made me understand my brother in his sickness. Not all molesters are bad people. We want to make them these monsters. It’s a sickness and if we address it as a sickness and try to get help, so many of us wouldn’t have a story to tell.”

[From People]

Mo’Nique has said in other interviews that there were times during the shoot of the film when she wasn’t sure if she could go through with some of the things she was asked to do as part of the character. I’m sure she’s happy she pushed herself through it now, because she’s one of the favorites for the Supporting Actress category at the Golden Globes and even a contender for an Oscar nomination. It can’t be easy to play a role like this, especially when you have your own abuse story in real life. But in this instance, it helped her.

Mo’Nique at the AFI Film Festival premiere of ‘Precious’ on November 1, 2009. Also, two promotional images from ‘Precious’ with Mo’Nique in character. Credit: WENN.