Sandra Bullock won the Oscar for Best Actress for her performance in The Blind Side and narrowly missed the award after fierce competition for her role in Gravity. Bullock became a mainstream actress after her breakthrough role in the 1994 film, Speed. Bullock starred alongside Keanu Reeves as a passenger forced to drive a bus at more than 50 miles per hour to prevent a bomb from detonating.
Before her stint in the $350 million grossing film, Bullock faced challenges to land roles in films. In one of her desperate attempts, The Lost City actress lied about her age to land a role in the cheesy romantic comedy, Love Potion No. 9.
Sandra Bullock Lied About Her Age To Star In This RomCom
Sandra Bullock’s first leading role was as Diane Farrow in the rom-com movie, Love Potion No. 9. The movie got a delayed release in 1992, having spent nearly two years in limbo. Bullock played the role of a biologist who along with her co-worker, Paul Matthews, studies and experiments with a love potion given to Paul by a gypsy. If the premise appears somewhat absurd, the audience at the time seemed to concur, with the film only collecting $754,935 at the box office.
Interestingly, during an interview with Barbara Walters in 1992, Sandra Bullock admitted that she lied about her age to get a part in the movie. According to Bullock, the filmmakers intended to cast an older actress in the scientist role. Bullock lied in the audition and said that she was 29 at the time. The Proposal actress shared with Barbara Walters (via Looper):
“I lied two years ago to get this part in Love Potion No. 9. They said, ‘We want an older scientist.’ I go there and I say I’m 29.”
At the time of the movie’s production, Bullock was 27 years old and was part of three other movies, yet she had to lie her way into the role.
Love Potion No. 9 Was Not The Only Time Sandra Bullock Lied About Her Age
Sandra Bullock shared in an interview with Detour Magazine that she had frequently lied about her age, to the point where she lost track of her age. The Miss Congeniality actress had no intention of lying when she entered the industry, but things didn’t work out well with her being honest. The Ocean’s 8 actress told Detour Magazine (via Nicki Swift):
“After a while, you have no idea how old you are because you’ve lied so many times. I always said I would never lie, but one time, when I didn’t it worked against me. So I figure you just keep them guessing.”
Sandra Bullock didn’t mention the other movies where she lied about her age. However, it highlights the intense competition in the industry, even for a talent as remarkable as Bullock. After Love Potion No. 9, one role that got her much-needed attention from Hollywood was Lenina Huxley from Demolition Man, alongside Sylvester Stallone.
Love Potion No. 9 is now available for rent on AppleTV+.
Source: Looper, Nicki Swift
