Following her debut in the late 1980s, Sandra Bullock went on to establish herself as one of the most talented actresses in Hollywood. Soon dubbed as ‘America’s sweetheart,’ the actress continued to swoon millions with her on-screen performances and won her first Oscar for the 2009 sports drama The Blind Side. While her professional life was going on quite well, Bullock had some struggles in her personal life, leading her to take a short break from acting.
It also became the reason behind her reluctance when the filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón approached her for the 2013 movie Gravity. However, he was eventually able to convince her to take the lead role in the sci-fi thriller that would go on to win seven Oscars at the 85th Academy Awards.
Sandra Bullock Wanted to Take A Break From Acting
After she won her first Oscar for The Blind Side, Sandra Bullock went through a public divorce from her ex-husband, Jesse James. In the aftermath of the separation, she decided to adopt her son, Louis. It was around the same time she was also in talks to star in Alfonso Cuarón’s 2013 film Gravity.
Bullock, however, was not sure about accepting the offer, as she wanted to take a break and spend some time with her son, Louis. As per CBS News, the actress told the filmmaker, “It has to be a great time for my son. I can’t miss him. If I miss him, I will be of no use to you.”
However, the prospect of collaborating with the acclaimed director, whom she had long admired, added a compelling dimension to her decision-making process. Ultimately, the filmmaker was able to navigate the complexities and convince Bullock to accept the offer to play Dr. Ryan Stone in the Oscar-winning movie.
How Alfonso Cuarón Convinced Sandra Bullock to Star in Gravity?
Alfonso Cuarón has shared that he was quite impressed with Sandra Bullock’s “fearlessness” and he wanted to cast her as the lead in Gravity. The Oscar winner had conflicts about accepting the offer, as she wanted to be there for her son.
Cuarón, however, reassured her that she would not miss out on anything related to her son and allowed him to the film set. “If we make it amazing for him right where you are, will you be OK?” Bullock recalled the director’s words, as per CBS News.
The condition led Bullock to accept the offer. Talking about her son’s time at the set, she shared that everyone, including her co-star George Clooney, went out of their way to make it enjoyable for him while she was occupied with filming.
“I’m glad I got to meet the human being — Alfonso — that led me to say, ‘OK, let me investigate if I can even do this,'” the Speed actress later said, describing it as the “best life decision” she has ever made. Bullock was highly praised for her work in the movie and also landed an Oscar nomination for Best Actress at the 85th Academy Awards.
Gravity is available to stream on Netflix.
