The year 2010 was a landmark year for Sandra Bullock. From January to June, Bullock adopted a child, won her first Oscar, underwent a highly-publicized divorce and summarily took an extended break from Hollywood.

The Academy-award winning actress has left her baggage behind and is happier than ever. This Christmas, Sandra will return to the big screen with the drama "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close." Sandra reveals to Entertainment Tonight that she had not intended her time away from the spotlight to be this brief.

"It's true, I didn't want to go back," said Bullock of the infamous period between 2010 to present for which she had kept a very low profile. Although Sandra planned for a lengthier hiatus, the chance to take a part in the Stephen Daldry-directed project was something she could not pass up.

"It was an opportunity as an actor that you hope you have and you're given it, as long as it was a great experience for me and my son at the same time, then it was an experience I wanted to take," the actress said.

In the film, Bullock plays mother to a young boy coping with the loss of his father in the world trade center attacks of September 11. She says the undertaking was a huge challenge emotionally but a dream role nonetheless.

"She was very keen to get back to work. She threw herself in with her usual enthusiasm and energy, and she was very relaxed. She had little Louis with her, and it was a very familial environment on set," Stephen Daldry, who is directing Bullock in the film "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close", says of the actress.

Even though the last year has apparently been tumultuous for Bullock's philandering ex-husband, Jesse James who got engaged to and then broke up with reality TV tattoo artist Kat Von D, the Oscar winner seems to have moved on.

"She has so much to offer," a source tells People magazine.

"She has left the baggage of the last year behind, and she's not carrying it with her. She is ready for the next chapter of her life. She amazes me and everyone else with how she is able to keep her sunny and funny ways about her. I'm sure she gets angry, but she doesn't stay in that place," the source further added.

"Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close", which also stars Tom Hanks, Thomas Horn, Viola Davis and James Gandolfini, opens in limited release this Christmas with a wide release on January 20, 2012.