Actress Jada Pinkett Smith, who has recently been in conversation for her controversial Netflix show, Queen Cleopatra, is among some of the prominent names in Hollywood. Over the past few decades of her career, she has featured in multiple shows and movies and has even served as the lead vocal for her metal band called Wicked Wisdom. One of her most popular roles includes the character of Niobe in The Matrix franchise.
She joined the cast of the popular sci-fi franchise with the 2003 sequel The Matrix Reloaded and reprised her role in the following movies in the film series as well. The actress later revealed that she wanted to portray another character. However, after failing her audition for the 1999 film, the Scream 2 actress would lie in order to secure her role in the sequel.
Jada Pinkett Smith Wanted to Play Trinity in The Matrix
During an interview with Vanity Fair, Jada Pinkett Smith revealed that her husband, Will Smith, was initially approached for the lead role in the sci-fi film series The Matrix. She shared that she tried to convince her husband to take the part, but he turned it down.
However, this did not reduce her interest in the film, as she would later audition for the role of Trinity in the 1999 film. She shared that she was introduced to the film after the makers approached her husband. While the Emancipation star was not interested in the movie, Pinkett knew that The Matrix would be “revolutionary” for the film industry.
The Girls’ Trip actress shared that she was super excited when she got called in to audition for the role in Trinity in the 1999 film. However, she failed the audition, and the Canadian actress Carrie-Anne Moss was cast as Trinity and continued to feature in the following sequels of the franchise.
But Pinkett Smith was not ready to give up on securing a role in the film and later revealed that she lied to do the same when she was approached for the role of Niobe in The Matrix Reloaded.
Jada Pinkett Smith Lied to Get a Part in The Matrix Sequel
Jada Pinkett Smith shared that although the makers did not find her suitable for the role of Trinity, they would create a character, keeping her in mind for the sequel to the 1999 film. The Collateral
actress shared that she received a call from the makers saying that they have a role for her, called Niobe.
However, they were not sure if she could star in the film as she was pregnant with her daughter Willow Smith at the time. While breaking down her career in a Vanity Fair feature, she shared that she lied to make sure she joined The Matrix franchise via the 2003 sequel.
“And I’ll tell you a secret. I lied,” she confessed. She shared that she lied about her due date, saying, “No worries, the baby’s coming in October, so by the time the end of November comes, I’m going to be ready.”
However, the due date she was given was November 11, and the filming for The Matrix Reloaded was set to begin by the end of November. Willow Smith was born on October 31, 2000, and Pinkett shared that she “got in the gym and got it together” and was super excited to be a part of the sci-fi action franchise.
Source: Vanity Fair
