Actor, producer, and a winner of the Golden Globe and Academy Awards, Sandra Bullock is not an uncommon name. Get to know a little about the comedian that you adore, in this biography.
From a singer to a top-ranking Hollywood star, Sandra Bullock sure is one funny yet strong woman. Bullock’s name finds a mention in the Guinness Book of World Records as the highest-paid actress, estimating the rate at $56 million.
Known for her roles in movies like Demolition Man, Speed, Miss Congeniality and The Proposal to name a few; her career high came with the role in The Blind Side, which won her the Golden Globe Award. She is one of the few who has managed to get an accolade as well as termed as the worst actor in a matter of a few days, winning an Oscar as well as the Razzie for her roles in The Blind Side and All About Steve, respectively.
Bullock who was given the tag of “Most Likely to Brighten Up Your Day” in high school, lives up to it even when she is in the prime of her life. Termed as “America’s Sweetheart” for her ‘girl next door’ demeanor, there sure is a lot to Bullock. Let’s take a look at what it takes to be Sandra Bullock – the risk taker.
Name: Sandra Annette Bullock
D.o.B: 26 July 1964
Place of Birth: Arlington, Virginia
Parents: John Bullock and Helga Meyer
Occupation: Hollywood Actress
One of Hollywood’s reliable actors was born on the outskirts of Washington to an Opera singer and a vocal coach. Undoubtedly she grew up surrounded by voices; singing voices to be specific. Most of her childhood was spent on the road with her family. Born with a natural talent, she participated in her mother’s productions, often finding a role in the children’s chorus. On her many tours with her mum, Bullock stayed with her aunt and grandmother, where she developed a love for German. Bullock went to the Washington-Lee High School where she willingly participated in the theater productions and was also a part of the cheerleading squad.
Bullock got herself enrolled at the East Carolina University post her graduation to study acting; only to quit the course three credits short of her graduation. She moved to New York where she pursued her acting devoutly; for this, she joined the Neighborhood Playhouse where she was trained under the legendary Sanford Meisner. During this phase, she supported herself by undertaking jobs of a bartender, a waitress and a coat checker. She went back to East Carolina University to earn herself a degree in acting.
Bullock and Tate Donovan were engaged for four years. Her other relationships included footballer Troy Aikman, musician Bob Schneider and actors Matthew McConaughey and Ryan Gosling before she went on to marry Jesse James, the host of Monster Garage. Her wedding took place at her favorite time of the day – ‘Dusk’ on a ranch in Santa Barbara, California. Her wedding, however, reached a dead end in a short span of five years, with the news of Jesse’s apparent infidelity. Her ray of hope came in through her son, Louis Bardo Bullock whom she adopted in 2010. Currently enjoying her single-parent status, Bullock revels in the joy of mothering her son.
Bullock and a co-passenger survived the crash of a chartered business jet at Jackson Hole Airport in 2000; besides, she also survived a head-on collision while she was traveling with her ex-husband in 2008. Bullock was stalked by an ardent fan who tried to run over James in 2007.
» She supports the American Red Cross and has donated huge amounts to the organization.
» She donated the dress she wore to the ‘Practical Magic’ premiere, in order to benefit the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade in October 2001.
» She is a supporter of Partners in Health, which provides medical care and services to people in Peru, Siberia and Haiti.
» She made a donation to the Warren Easton Charter High School, which was destroyed in 2005 by hurricane Katrina.
» She also supports various causes like AIDS, Disaster Relief, Education, Human Rights, Health, etc.
2010: Won an Oscar for the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role – The Blind Side
2010: Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – The Blind Side
2010: Screen Actors Guild Awards for an Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Lead Role – The Blind Side
2010: People’s Choice Awards: Favorite Movie Actress
2006: People’s Choice Awards: Favorite Motion Picture Actress
2006: Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture – Crash
2004: Hasty Pudding Theatricals Award for the Woman of the Year
1999: People’s Choice Awards: Favorite Motion Picture Actress
Miscellaneous
1996: Formed Fortis Films along with her sister, Gesine Bullock and her Father, John Bullock.
1993: Composed and performed her song ‘Heaven Knocking on My Door’.
1998: Directed and scripted the movie ‘Making Sandwiches’.
✰ Bullock was bullied in school, for wearing outdated clothes bought in Germany.
✰ Bullock has learned dance forms like flamenco, salsa and tango.
✰ She plays the piano since she was 8.
✰ Bullock loves horses but can’t get near one due to an allergy.
✰ She is the granddaughter of a German Rocket Scientist.
✰ Her first stage performance was when she was 5.
✰ Her alternate career choice would have been a Romantic Novelist.
✰ She founded a popular restaurant named Bess Bistro in 2006.
✰ She renovated Walton’s Fancy and Staple, which offers services like event planning; it is a floral shop, restaurant and bakery.
✰ She loves eating cookie dough, right out of the tube.
2012: Gravity
2011: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
2009: The Proposal
2009: The Blind Side
2009: All About Steve
2007: Premonition
2006: The Lake House
2006: Infamous
2005: Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous
2005: Loverboy
2004: Crash
2002: Two Weeks Notice
2002: Murder by Numbers
2002: Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood
2000: Miss Congeniality
2000: Gun Shy
2000: 28 Days
1999: Forces of Nature
1998: The Prince of Egypt
1998: Practical Magic
1998: Hope Floats
1997: Speed 2: Cruise Control
1997: Making Sandwiches
1996: Two If by Sea
1996: In Love and War
1996: A Time to Kill
1995: While You Were Sleeping
1995: The Net
1994: Speed
1993: Wrestling Ernest Hemingway
1993: The Vanishing
1993: The Thing Called Love
1993: Fire on the Amazon
1993: Demolition Man
1992: Who Do I Gotta Kill? (aka “Me and the Mob”)
1992: When the Party’s Over
1992: Love Potion No. 9
1990: Lucky Chances
1989: Who Shot Patakango?
1989: The Preppie Murder
1989: Religion, Inc. (aka “A Fool and His Money”)
1989: Bionic Showdown: The Six Million Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman
1987: Hangmen
This was ‘America’s Sweetheart’ Sandra Bullock for you; the girl who can bewitch you with her ability to make you laugh. In the words of Sandra Bullock herself, “I never did anything according to what anyone else wanted. That’s why I think I am happy. I do everything 100% — even my stupidest missteps. … I did that, I know I’m responsible for that, and I can make amends, and we can all laugh at it, because it’s my mistake. I try not to blame it on anyone else unless I fully know it was their fault — and then I have no problem pointing the finger.”
