SANDRA BULLOCK

Date of Birth
26 July 1964, Arlington, Virginia, USA

Birth Name
Sandra Annette Bullock

Nickname
Sandy
America's Sweetheart
The Girl Next Door

Height
5' 7½" (1.71 m)

Mini Biography
In 1964, Sandra Bullock was born in a Virginia suburb of Washington, DC, to a voice teacher and a German opera singer. She grew up on the road with her parents and younger sister. She often performed in the children's chorus of whatever production her mother was in. That singing talent later came in handy for her role as an aspiring country singer in The Thing Called Love (1993). Her family moved back to the Washington area when she was a teenager. She later enrolled in East Carolina University in North Carolina, where she studied acting. Shortly afterward she moved to New York to pursue a career on the stage. This led to acting in television programs and then feature films. She gave memorable performances in Demolition Man (1993) and Wrestling Ernest Hemingway (1993), but did not achieve the stardom that seemed inevitable for her until her work in the smash hit Speed (1994). She now ranks as one of the most popular actresses in Hollywood.

Spouse
Jesse James (16 July 2005 - 28 June 2010) (divorced)

Trade Mark
The scars above her left eye and cheek

The cleft in her chin


Trivia
Her mother, opera singer Helga Bullock, died in Arlington, VA. [April 4, 2000]

On People (USA) magazine's '50 Most Beautiful' list. [1999]

Ranked #58 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list. [October 1997]

Chosen by People (USA) magazine as one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world [1996]

While working on Two If by Sea (1996), discovered she is allergic to horses.

She replaced Demi Moore in While You Were Sleeping (1995)

Wrote and performed her own song "Heaven Knocking On My Door" in The Thing Called Love (1993).

Replaced Lori Petty in Demolition Man (1993).

Daughter of a German opera singer and voice teacher, Helga Bullock (1942-2000) and an American voice coach, John W. Bullock (born 1925).

Attended East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina.

Graduated from Washington-Lee H.S. in Arlington, Virginia in 1982. She was a cheerleader. (Shirley MacLaine (who was also a cheerleader) and Warren Beatty also attended this high school).

Voted best actress by the readers of the "US Magazine" in 1995.

Voted "Best Actress" by viewers of MTV's "The Big Picture" in 1994 and 1995.

Friends with Samantha Mathis.

Voted "Most Likely To Brighten Up Your Day" by her high school class.

Received the scar on her head when she fell into a lake and cut her head on a rock.

Her younger sister, Gesine Bullock-Prado, broke Sandy's nose with her elbow while opening a garage door when they were kids.

Spent time at a Rehabilitation Clinic to research her role in 28 Days (2000).

Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#27). [1995]

Was considered for the lead in Runaway Bride (1999).

Is fluent in German.

Was engaged to Tate Donovan.

Owns a home in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Born at 3:15 AM.

Appeared in Bob Schneider's video 'Round and Round' (2000).

While filming 28 Days (2000), in New York, she stayed in former co-star Dennis Hopper's apartment.

Replaced Nancy McKeon in the sitcom "Working Girl" (1990).

Her younger sister is Gesine Bullock-Prado, a lawyer and Vice-President of Fortis Films, aged 33 (2001).

Studied ballet when she was a child.

Her favorite time of the day is dusk.

Loves horses but is extremely allergic to them.

1998: Golden Globes Awards Presenter: "Best Movie Comedy/Musical"

Owns a house in Austin, Texas where she filmed some scenes in Miss Congeniality (2000).

Uses the ancient Chinese technique of accupuncture as a form of weight loss.

Is from the same Metro Area as Martin Lawrence, Dave Chappelle, Mya, Regina Hall, Alan Heitz and Dwayne Winstead.

Was considered for the role of Lois Lane in a proposed relaunch of the Superman franchise by Warner Brothers and was also considered for the role of Wonder Woman in a film adaptation that was never made.

Has a house on Tybee Island, Georgia.

Sister-in-law of Raymond Prado.

She was originally cast as Rafi in Prime (2005) but two weeks before principal photography, was dropped due to script differences between her and writer/director Ben Younger. Uma Thurman stepped in quickly to replace her.

Known for her generous donations, she donated $1 million to the American Red Cross after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in 2001. Did the same, again donating $1 million to the Red Cross, after the tsunami- disaster in Asia in 2004. She again donated $1 million, this time to Doctors Without Borders, after the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

At 40, she was voted sexiest female celebrity in a 'Naughty Forties' poll conducted for UK television station FX.

After college, she moved to New York to waitress.

Ranked #18 on Tropopkin's Top 25 Most Intriguing People [Issue #100]

Stepmother of Jesse James' children Chandler, Jesse Jr. and Sunny.

Married actor Jesse James in a sunset ceremony on a ranch outside Santa Barbara, California. They celebrated with several hundred guests including Jamie Lee Curtis, Hugh Grant, Keanu Reeves, William Shatner, Regina King and some member of the Hell's Angels.. [16 July 2005]

Was considered for the role of "Harper Lee" in Capote (2005), and later got the role in Infamous (2006). Both films concern Truman Capote's researching and writing of In Cold Blood (1967).

Often said to be one of the last actors to have studied with the great teacher Sanford Meisner, who trained Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton and Joanne Woodward at the Neighborhood Playhouse. Sandra most likely did not work with the great man himself but with a number of actors who did: Ron Stetson, Richard Pinter and Dan Biehn, the latter taught her at East Carolina University.

Played the love interest of both stars of "Nip/Tuck" (2003). She played the girlfriend of Dylan Walsh's character in The Lake House (2006) and the wife of Julian McMahon's character in Premonition (2007/I).

Named Empire Magazines #66 in the list of 100 Sexiest Stars (2007).

In 2007, Forbes Magazine estimated her earnings for the year at $10 million.

Sandra and her husband, Jesse James, were unhurt after a head-on crash with a drunken driver in Massachusetts on April 18, 2008. Both vehicles were totaled but no one was hurt.

Has designed special seat-belts so her pet dogs, Ruby and Poppy, can ride safely in her car [April 8, 2009].

Hates musicals and vows to never participate in one.

Was considered for the role of Helen Lyle in Candyman (1992).

Was bullied in school, as a kid, for wearing frumpy clothes bought in Germany.

By starring in The Blind Side (2009) she became the only actress to date to have a film marketed with her name solely above the title (i.e. based on her star power alone, and not a franchise or tentpoll picture) pass the $200 million mark in domestic gross.

Is one of four actresses to win both, the Oscar for Best Actress and the Razzie for Worst Actress, along with Halle Berry, Faye Dunaway and Liza Minnelli. Bullock is the only one to be nominated for and win both awards in the same year (for The Blind Side (2009) and All About Steve (2009)). She was presented with the awards within two days in 2010.

Introduced to salsa by Robert Duvall.

Was jokingly thrown in a pool by George Clooney and Tom Cruise at Joel Schumacher's birthday party in 2000. She talked to InStyle magazine about this story in 2005 and also mentioned it in her Oscar acceptance speech in 2010.

Co-owner, with Jesse James, of "Cisco Burgers" in Long Beach, California.

Separated from husband Jesse James following the revelation of his 11-month affair with tattoo model Michelle McGee (15 March 2010).

She is one of 14 actors to win the Academy Award for playing a real-life person who was still alive on the evening of the award ceremony for playing Leigh Anne Tuohy in The Blind Side (2009).

Has directed only one film, the 1998 movie Making Sandwiches (1998) (she also wrote it). Bullock said in a Reader's Digest interview that she directed the film to "educate herself" about directing and came away concluding that while she enjoys producing and acting, she does not have the talent to "lead" a film by being a director.

Canceled her appearances at the British and German movie premiere of The Blind Side (2009) in the wake of model Michelle McGee's claims that she had an affair with Bullock's husband Jesse James while she was working on the set of The Blind Side (2009). After she backed out of the premieres, both events were canceled as a red carpet event. [March 2010]

Revealed in People magazine in April 2010 that she started to adopt a one-week-old baby boy, named Louis Bardo Bullock, from New Orleans in January 2010. Initially began adoption proceedings with husband Jesse James before they split in April 2010 and going on to adopt Louis as a single parent after they divorced.

Merited a place in Time magazine's - The 100 Most Influential People in the World ("Artists" category) - with an homage penned by Betty White. [May 10, 2010]

Lived shortly in Vienna and Salzburg, Austria as a child.

Lived in Nuremberg, Germany until the age of 12, where her mother performed at the Staatstheater Nürnberg.

Was a cheerleader in high school.

Her maternal grandfather was a rocket scientist from Nuremberg, Germany.

Filed for divorce from Jesse James in April 2010.

Received the American Riviera Award at the 2010 Santa Barbara International Film Festival in 2010.

Named person of the year for 2010 by People Magazine.

Returned to work twelve months after adopting her son Louis in order to begin filming Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (2011).

Universal Pictures wanted to cast Sandra Bullock in the role of Karen Sisco in Out of Sight. However, director Steven Soderbergh decided to cast Jennifer Lopez in the role because he thought that Jennifer and co-star George Clooney had the intense chemistry together needed for the film.

When she "won" the Razzie Award as Worst Actress for All About Steve, Bullock became one of the few in the awards' 30 year history to accept the $4.97 dis-honor in person. A video of her speech can be seen on the Razzie® You Tube channel (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghS98BKy29Q&feature=channel_video_title).

Was Homecoming Princess in college.

When she was attending college, she won a disco dancing contest with her pal Mark Brunetz. He was her date to the Oscars in 1996.

She was the celebrity Monarch in the Krewe of Orpheus Parade, in the Mardi Gras. She was invited by former co-star Harry Connick Jr. [February 15, 1999]

Can dance flamenco, salsa and tango.

Attended East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina (1982-1986).

Was a gymnast in high school.

Had a 4,600-square-foot townhouse in SoHo, New York.

Shared her house with her sister Gesine while she was attending law school. [1995]

Wasn't gonna do the Speed sequel, after knowing that Keanu Reeves had passed on it, but she reached an agreement with 20th Century Fox, in which they would endorse her upcoming movie, Hope Floats (1998).

Friends with photographer Karen Hardyn Bystedt since 1991.

Made her first stage appearance in an opera when she was age 5. She played a dirty gypsy in the opera "The Gypsy Baron".

Her mother was from Nüremberg (Germany) and her father is from Birmingham, Alabama, USA.

Played the piano since she was age 8.

Donated the dress she wore for the 'Practical Magic' premiere to be auctioned at Charity Auction at eBay in benefit of The Avon Breast Cancer Crusade. [October 2001]

Friends with photographer Dan Winters and his wife Kathryn, she is their son's godmother and Tate Donovan is the godfather.

Supports several charities. In 2000, she received the Inspiration of the Year award, for her support of charities such as: PETA, AIDS, Pedriatics, Cancer, etc.

Her performance in off-Broadway play "No Time Flat" got her an agent and a very important audition. The audition was for Bionic Showdown: Bionic Woman and the Six Million Dollar Man (1989) (TV), and theatre critic John Simon praised her performance too. [1988]

Her sister Gesine got married in Sandra's Texas ranch to storyboard artist Raymond Prado. [3 April 1999]

Used to live in the same Los Angeles apartment where actor Ashton Kutcher lived when he moved to Los Angeles. He found out because he used to get her mail.

Voted the 'most wanted to see star' by US Military Personnel serving in the Balkans. [May 2001]

Said that if she hadn't been an actress, she would have been a romantic novelist.

Men's Fitness magazine - one of the Hollywood's 10 hottest women. [October 1999]

Earned a diving certification before shooting Speed 2. [1996]

His father has been her manager since 1996.

Her drama teachers in college were Don Biehn and Edgar Loessin.

Auditioned 5 times before getting the part in the TV series "Working Girl" (1990).

Miss Congeniality (2000) was filmed in her home city, Austin, Texas.

Her parents met in Nüremberg, Germany, while her father was doing a civil work for the Pentagon and her mother was his secretary.

Listed by Premiere magazine as one of the 100 most powerful people in Hollywood # 62. [April 2002]

Lived in New York for three years (1986-1989).

Took her parents to the While You Were Sleeping, Practical Magic and Forces of Nature premieres.

Her sister Gesine studied law in Southwestern, Los Angeles. [1995]

Her high school drama teacher was Ms Gerrie Philpi.

Good friends with Heidi Klum.

Her mother tongue was German.

Good friends with actresses "Nicole Kidman", "Renee Zellweger" and "Meryl Streep".


Personal Quotes
(on marital plans) "I've always been very sceptical about marriage, because I only want to do it once; I want to do it the right way."

I've learned that success comes in a very prickly package. Whether you choose to accept it or not is up to you. It's what you choose to do with it, the people you choose to surround yourself with. Always choose people that are better than you. Always choose people that challenge you and are smarter than you. Always be the student. Once you find yourself to be the teacher, you've lost it.

"I remember sitting down in Joel Silver's office and Joel going, "Do you want to do this film?". I remember going, "I would like to do it, but I would love to talk about the character, and it was almost like I had said the biggest joke".

The only reason I haven't married yet, is because I take it too seriously.

Fame means when your computer modem is broken, the repair guy comes out to your house a little faster.

I have no desire to maintain a lifestyle. I am a horrible celebrity. If I am out in public I dress like a pig.

"The Acadamy Awards shouldn't even nominate Meryl Streep anymore. She should just be given an award every year. There should just be the Meryl Streep category".

"Everyone told me to pass on Speed (1994) because it was a 'bus movie'".

I'd rather take risks than make something that's cookie cutter.

The first Miss Congeniality (2000) gave me the chance to do broad comedy that had nothing to do with being the romantic interest. The girl-next-door thing went away with that film and I tend to do characters that I want to be more like. In the beginning, though, I was sort of the 'action girl'. And then with While You Were Sleeping (1995), I was the romantic-comedy girl. But when I took time off, I thought, 'There's something I'm missing here.' I literally had to start from scratch.

I don't like to talk about personal things. ... And by keeping it private, you have a better shot at a healthy relationship. I learned at a young age that there are certain things you just don't talk about.

I don't think there's ever what could be called a 'chilled state' in my head.

"My goal now is to remember every place I've been, only do things I love and not say yes when I don't mean it." quoted in WOMAN'S WORLD (7-5-05)

"If I'm blessed with that, I hope I am the best version of me that I can possibly be." - on motherhood to People Magazine.

Movie sex scenes are never romantic, and you're never swept off your feet. It's always very technical....I'm counting the beats: Okay, we're supposed to kiss for two beats, then I say my line, then they want another kiss for four beats. I'm going, One Mississippi, two Mississippi, three and break. It's like choreography. Sometimes you have actors who feel it's their job to get as far down into your throat as possible. You're like, Excuse me, I like you, but not that much.

Why do you need one? I don't understand why there needs to be a love interest to make women go see a film. I think society sort of makes us feel that way - that if you don't have a guy, you're worthless.

On Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997): That was a mistake but, in retrospect, how are you supposed to know?

(On how it felt and what it said about life that she was nominated for a Razzie and an Oscar for Best Actress within 2 days in 2010): That life is perfectly balanced.

I used to be an optimist, but now I know that nothing is going to turn out as I expect.

[Contrasting highs in her professional life with lows in her private life] Whoever established the high road, and how high it was going to be, should be fired.

The sexiest man alive? My husband and then, Keanu!! (2006)

[on 'Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close', her film about 911] The story is about honoring people's grief, while giving them permission to have it. And I loved that it showed generations in pain, and how they healed each other by listening and talking.

[on being changed by motherhood] I cry at everything now... I've become more open to surprises and feelings.


Salary
Speed (1994) $500,000
While You Were Sleeping (1995) $1,200,000
The Net (1995) $250,000
A Time to Kill (1996) $8,000,000
In Love and War (1996) $10,500,000
Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997) $11,000,000
Hope Floats (1998) $11,000,000
28 Days (2000) $12,500,000
Murder by Numbers (2002) $15,000,000
"George Lopez" (2002) $10,000,000 (syndication deal)
The Blind Side (2009) $20,000,000 (back-end, based on worldwide gross of $309 million, plus share of DVD and pay-TV revenue)

Where Are They Now
(March 2003) Producing "George Lopez" (2002).

(October 2003) Preparing to star in and produce Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous (2005).

(April 2010) Adopted baby boy named Louis Bardot Bullock from New Orleans, Louisiana