It’s been two years since Sandra Bullock was last on the big screen with her Oscar-winning role in ‘The Blind Side’. She returns later this month in ‘Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close’, costarring Tom Hanks.

At a press conference for the film in NYC this last Sunday, Bullock, 47, admitted that she was shy about returning to work after adopting her son Louis in January 2010. Shortly after adopting her baby, her six-year marriage to Jesse James fell apart after his infidelities came to light.

One reporter asked the star if she considered leaving the acting profession altogether after becoming a single mom. “I wasn’t thinking about any of that,” Bullock replied. “I was just so happy being a mom. I’m still very happy being a mom. That just shifted and became my full priority.”

Bullock, who has remained single since she and James, 42, finalized their divorce in summer 2010 despite a close friendship with pal Ryan Reynolds, has spent time with her adorable little boy in their homes in Los Angeles, New Orleans and Austin, Tex.

But Extremely Loud‘s director Daldry finally compelled the star to get back in front of the cameras — thanks not only to a moving 9/11 story based on author Jonathan Safran Foer‘s acclaimed novel, but a willingness to accommodate Bullock’s schedule as a mother.

“Whatever next opportunity that I was given had to be an amazing opportunity for myself and for my son. So we had a great time,” Bullock explained. “It was no longer being a selfish actress having a moment. I wanted to have an amazing time with [Louis] and myself, and fortunately, Mr. Daldry presented that. In every possible way, it was the best!”

And the material — a family story taking place on September 11, 2011 — definitely resonated for the star, who was in Manhattan on that tragic day.

“I was there and I saw it. I saw the second plane,” she said at the press conference. “I saw the people. I saw people helping people, and that to me is what resonates about the city of New York,” she said of the historic moment.

“So, I have so many memories and emotions of it. Some of them still don’t register,” she admitted. “In a good way, I hope that it doesn’t ever leave, that vibrancy of what happened, me because it made me aware of so many things that I wasn’t aware of before. As long as everyone can talk about it and grieve…You should be able to grieve.”

I’m torn on whether or not I want to see this movie. I can handle sad movies – but this movie looks especially sad. I don’t know if I could handle it!

Here are pictures of Sandra last night in Manhattan.

Photos: Fame, Source