In Pursuit of Happyness, Linda was the live-in mother of Chris Gardner's boy. She is played by Thandie Newton. Things started to go bad for her and her family when Chris invested in these bone density scanners which resulted in a depleted bank account and tons of these things nobody wanted or needed. She left Chris then because she wanted to be happy and she wasn't happy the way things were going. Chris kept in contact with her, finally calling her when he landed in jail for unpaid parking tickets. He asked her to pick up their son from daycare that night and take him to daycare the next morning. Chris would get him the next night. At first Linda refused to get their son, but then relented but wanted to get him the next day and go to the park. She would pick him up from daycare and bring him back about 6:00. Chris agreed reluctantly because he had no other option. The next night, when Linda brought their son back, it was later than 6:00. Junior was sleeping as she laid him in bed and she then told Chris she was leaving to go work across the country, she had a job opening in a relative's restaurant and she wanted to take Junior with her. Chris said no, he stays with me. On the verge of tears, Linda countered that a boy should be with his mother and Chris totally refused.Linda thought for a bit then said, OK and Tell him I hate him. I know you won't take good care of him, Chris. I know that and with those parting words, she left never to be seen in the movie again. Show less «