It's been almost eight years since Bethany Hamilton overcame the life-threatening shark attack that claimed her left arm. Over that time, Hamilton has told her death-defying tale in the media, established (with family and friends) the Friends of Bethany Foundation to help shark-attack victims and amputees, and seen her inspiring true story adapted for the big screen in Soul Surfer. (See review.)
The experience of having a film made about her life has been both overwhelming and rewarding for the 21-year-old professional surfer.
"It was exciting, and we — my family and I — all learned a lot, but it was kind of stressful at the same time because we're trying to make it [true to] our life and have the film come out as good as we can," said Hamilton. "Being on the set was really fun. Everyone knows everyone by the end of the filming and all the actors were really cool."
It's no secret that Hollywood filmmakers have a tendency to make adjustments to real-life stories in order to make them more engaging for viewers, but for the most part, Soul Surfer sticks to the script of Hamilton's real-life story. Still, there are a few scenes that depart from the facts — for instance, the depiction of a bitter rivalry between Hamilton and fellow surfing competitor Malina Birch.
"The Malina character was actually fictional, but I didn't mind it. We [Bethany's family] all approved of it," said Hamilton. "You always have those kind of girls that get in the heats all the time, and they're a little more aggressive, so in a sense there's girls like that, but it's not that catty between us."
Among Hamilton's favorite parts of the film is the scene when she goes to Thailand to help provide aid and service for victims of the hugely destructive 2004 tsunami. Though she didn't teach a little boy how to surf while she was there (as seen in the movie), the trip did have a powerful impact on her life.
Many native people had lost family members and loved ones in the catastrophe, sources of support which Hamilton was still able to hold onto throughout her struggles.
"I'd met this one girl who had lost one of her siblings and one of her parents and she was getting ready to go to China, which not many Thai kids get to do," said Hamilton. "It's a pretty poor country, so they don't really get to leave, but she had gotten a scholarship through school. That was kind of cool to just talk with her and she was still living life."
Hamilton continues to make missionary trips to this day, including a few to orphanages in Mexico. In addition, Friends of Bethany is still getting off the ground and she looks forward to helping other shark attack victims and amputees like herself.
"It's a way to reach people," she says.
Through all of her success as a professional surfer and an inspiring person, Hamilton has remained humble and focused on making a positive impact wherever she can.
"It gets kind of grueling to have to constantly do interviews and stuff like that. It's not something I thrive off of," said Hamilton. "I think just knowing that it's been helping people, it motivates me a little more."
Read Tony Allen's full Q&A with Bethany Hamilton at dailyloafblog.com.
