Sandra Bullock won the Oscar for Best Actress for her role in Blind area and narrowly missed out on the award after fierce competition for her role in Gravity. Bullock became a popular actress after her breakout role in the 1994 film. Speed. Bullock stars alongside Keanu Reeves as a passenger forced to drive a bus at over 50 mph to prevent a bomb from exploding.
Before starring in the $350 million-grossing film, Bullock had difficulty getting film roles. In one of his desperate attempts Lost City actress lied about her age to get a role in a cheesy romantic comedy. Love Potion #9.
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Sandra Bullock lied about her age to star in a rom-com
Sandra Bullock’s first starring role was as Diane Farrow in the rom-com. Love Potion #9. The film received a delayed release in 1992, spending nearly two years in limbo. Bullock played the role of a biologist who, along with her colleague Paul Matthews, studies and experiments with a love potion given to Paul by a gypsy woman. While this premise seems somewhat absurd, audiences at the time seemed to agree with it, with the film grossing just $754,935.
Interestingly, during an interview with Barbara Walters in 1992, Sandra Bullock admitted that she lied about her age to get a role in the film. According to Bullock, the filmmakers intended to cast an older actress in the role of the scientist. Bullock lied at the audition and said she was 29 years old at the time. Offer the actress shared with Barbara Walters (via Looper):
“Two years ago, I lied to get a role in Love Potion No. 9.” They said, “We need an older scientist.” I go there and say I’m 29.”
At the time of filming, Bullock was 27 years old and had acted in three other films, but she had to lie to get the role.
Read also: ‘What was I thinking?’: Sandra Bullock broke one of her cardinal rules for a $45 million film that was panned, just to prove a point
Love Potion #9 This wasn’t the only time Sandra Bullock lied about her age.
Sandra Bullock revealed in an interview with Detour Magazine that she often lied about her age to the point that she lost track of her age. Miss Congeniality The actress didn’t intend to lie when she entered the industry, but things didn’t go well with her honesty. Ocean’s 8 the actress told Detour magazine (via Nicki Swift):
“After a while, you don’t even know how old you are because you’ve lied so many times. I always said that I would never lie, but one day when I didn’t, it worked against me. So I guess you’re just keeping them guessing.
Sandra Bullock didn’t mention other movies in which she lied about her age. However, this highlights the intense competition in the industry, even for a top talent like Bullock. After Love Potion #9One of the roles that brought her much-needed attention from Hollywood was that of Lenina Huxley from Destroyer, along with Sylvester Stallone.
Also Read: Sandra Bullock Takes Role Originally Written as ‘Serious African-American Paramedic’ in $350 Million Movie After Oscar-Winning DC Actress Turned It Down
Love Potion #9 is now available to rent on AppleTV+.
Source: Looper, Nicki Swift.