Sandra Bullock is a bonafide A-list Hollywood star with plenty of hit films like Miss Congeniality, The Proposal, Gravity, and more under her belt. However, one film is more special to her than others since she’s the mother of two Black children, Louis and Laila. Also, it’s the movie that gave her an Academy Award in 2010.
The film is John Lee Hancock’s The Blind Side. The story is about a couple taking in a homeless Black teen and giving him a good life while also defending him against racism. Adapted from a real-life story, the film touched many. The movie grossed more than $309 million at the worldwide box office and was critically acclaimed too. However, Sandra Bullock was initially hesitant to do the movie and almost declined it.
How Did Sandra Bullock Almost Lose Her First Oscar?
Sandra Bullock played Leigh Anne Tuohy in John Lee Hancock’s The Blind Side film. But she wasn’t convinced of her ability to do Tuohy justice. In an interview with Tribute Movies, the actress expressed that she didn’t want to mess up Tuohy’s portrayal. So instead of running away, she did her best to get to know the woman right from what she ate to what nail polish she wore. Bullock said:
“It was really scary. That’s why I just kept saying, ‘No’… Leigh Anne will beat anyone in their energy, any day, in her sleep. When I first met her, I was thoroughly exhausted by the time I left her and she was still gonna go for another five hours.”
Even though the actress was concerned about not pulling it off, in the end, she nailed the role by giving it her all. Also, she termed the entire project as a positive life experience for her. Bullock stated:
“I left going, ‘I have no idea what I did. I don’t know if it’s right. I don’t know if I gave what I needed to give.’ But I was spent by the time I left. It was a good life experience, not just for the work. I felt like I came out of it just bigger. You felt fuller when you left this place.”
Even after filming ended, Bullock kept a good relationship with Leigh Anne Tuohy’s family. She even thanked them in her Oscar acceptance speech.
Sandra Bullock Thanked The Tuohy Family At The Oscars
When Sandra Bullock accepted the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2010, she thanked the Tuohy family for allowing her to portray them. She said, “To the family that allowed me to play them, the Tuohy family, I know they’re in here and you’ll probably hear them in a minute, maybe not, thank you for giving me the opportunity.” That’s not all, the Hollywood star also sang their praises in a behind-the-scenes interview done during filming.
Bullock complimented Leigh Anne for her enthusiasm and magnanimity. She said, “You (Leigh Anne) come on set, it’s like people don’t want you to leave. It’s like this beacon of light arrives at set, all the crew and all of us hang around Leigh Anne.” Bullock allegedly still keeps in contact with the family. On the work front, the actress has starred in multiple projects since The Blind Side. She recently starred in two hit films, The Lost City and Bullet Train.
The Blind Side is streaming on Netflix.
Source: Warner Bros. and Tribute Movies
