( CNN ) -- When talking to Sandra Bullock , it wo n't be long before she mentions that special guy in her life : her 3-year-old son , Louis . The 49-year-old single parent has been frank about putting her role as a mom ahead of her role as America 's Sweetheart , recently telling Vogue magazine that she would n't hesitate to `` move to Alaska '' should her career begin to negatively impact Louis . But for now , Bullock is still ensconced in Hollywood . The actress has been selective with taking new work after her Oscar-winning turn in 2009 's `` The Blind Side , '' but her decision to star in Alfonso Cuarón 's October space thriller `` Gravity '' just might lead Bullock into another busy awards season . Sandra Bullock squashes George Clooney romance rumors . In the film , she plays a medical engineer by the name of Dr. Ryan Stone , who , accompanied by George Clooney 's skilled astronaut Matt Kowalsky , embarks on her first shuttle mission . As you 've probably seen in the heart-stopping trailers , all goes well until the shuttle is destroyed , leaving Stone and Kowalsky stranded in space . Bullock was challenged with simulating the concept in a believable way and consulted an astronaut to make sure she nailed the role physically as well as emotionally . Yet even with that preparation , shooting `` Gravity '' was still `` hard on a daily level , for many reasons , '' Bullock told CNN . Toronto : 'Gravity ' wows , propelling Bullock toward an Oscar nomination . `` The nice thing was that no matter what was going on , I got to go home to the same little guy , or have him there , '' she continued , speaking of her son . `` They made it so that he could be there with me 24/7 . They created 'Louis-land ' on a sound stage in damp , cold weather ; they created Disneyland . So I knew that he was OK , ( and ) he was happy . And so it was worth going in and struggling for those 12 hours , because there was someone not struggling , right over there . '' Working with Cuarón did fuel Bullock 's natural fascination with what else is out there in the universe , but as far as turning her on to the idea of space travel , that 's still a no-go . `` Actually going into space ... that 's not me . I 'm very happy right here , '' she said , relenting that perhaps a payment -- in the neighborhood of $ 1 billion , let 's say -- could convince her to change her mind . Sandra Bullock hails law limiting paparazzi : 'Children should not be sold ' `` If I was 80 years old and they said 'here 's a billion dollars to go , ' I would do it , or if I was 80 and my son was a thrill-seeker or an astronaut and asked me to go with him , then I 'd do it , '' Bullock said . `` And I 'm assuming that I 'd perish . That 's why I 'm picking that 80 . I 'm grown ; he 's good ; any resentments that we need to work out , then let 's go to space . '' At this age , though , Louis is completely unaware that his mom is famous and probably wealthy enough to pull that off . `` He has no idea ( that I 'm famous ) , '' Bullock said . `` I 'm simply the mom who makes the lunch , drives to school , finds where the toys are , washes the clothes , and I 'm here to play . And that 's all I should be . He should have no idea what I do . It should have no importance . ... He 's supposed to be a little person for as long as possible . And I hope I do n't impede that with by what I do . '' CNN 's Marc Istook and Topher Gauk-Roger contributed to this report .
Sandra Bullock loves to talk about her son , Louis . The actress said the 3-year-old helped motivate her on long days . He had his own playground built on the set of her new movie , `` Gravity '' As of now , Louis does n't know how famous his mom is .