Sandra Bullock

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Sandra Bullock

Born Sandra Annette Bullock
July 26, 1964 (1964-07-26) (age 43)
Arlington, Virginia
Other name(s) Sandra
Sandy
Occupation Actress , producer
Years active 1987 - present
Spouse(s) Jesse G. James (2005 - present)

Sandra Annette Bullock (born July 26, 1964) is an American actress. She came to fame in the 1990s, after roles in successful films such as Speed and While You Were Sleeping, and has since established her career as a well-known leading Hollywood actress, with the box office comedy hit Miss Congeniality and one of her most recent film roles, in 2004's Crash, having received critical acclaim. She was ranked as the 14th richest female celebrity with an estimated fortune of $85 million in early 2007.[1]

Contents

[edit] Early life

Bullock was born in Arlington County, Virginia, the daughter of Helga D. Meyer, a German opera singer, and John W. Bullock, a Pentagon contractor, executive and part-time vocal coach from Alabama.[2][3] Bullock's maternal grandfather was a rocket scientist from Nuremberg, Germany. Bullock lived in Nuremberg until age twelve, where she sang in the opera's children's choir at the Staatstheater Nürnberg.[4] She frequently traveled with her mother on her opera tours, and lived in Germany and other parts of Europe for much of her childhood. Bullock studied ballet and vocal arts as a child, taking small parts in her mother's opera productions.

Bullock attended Washington-Lee High School where she was a cheerleader, participated in high school theater productions and dated a football player.[5] She graduated in 1982 and enrolled in East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina. During this time, she worked as a waitress at a restaurant.[5] She later left school during her senior year (Spring 1986), only three credits short of graduating, to pursue an acting career.[5] She went on to Manhattan to pursue auditions and supported herself with a variety of odd jobs (bartender, cocktail waitress, coat checker).[5]

Bullock later completed her coursework and was awarded a bachelor's degree from East Carolina University.[6] She is fluent in German. However, she prefers to speak English when appearing on German TV shows, although the TV hosts speak German.

[edit] Career

Sandra Bullock's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Sandra Bullock's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

While in New York, Bullock took acting classes at the Neighborhood Playhouse. She had appeared in several student films and had later landed a role in an Off-Broadway play No Time Flat.[5] Director Alan J. Levi was impressed by Bullock's performance and offered her a part in the made-for-TV movie Bionic Showdown: The Six Million Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman (1989). After filming the TV movie, Bullock had stayed in Los Angeles, California, and was cast in a series of small roles in several independent films as well as in the lead role of the short-lived NBC television version of the film Working Girl (1990). She had later appeared in several films such as Love Potion No. 9 (1992), The Thing Called Love (1993) and Fire on the Amazon (where she agreed to appear topless if the camera did not show that much, she covered herself with duct tape which apparently was somewhat painful to take off).[5]

One of Bullock's first notable movie appearances was in the science-fiction/action movie, Demolition Man (1993), which had starred Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes. This role then led to her break-through performance in Speed the following year. She became a high-level movie star in the late 1990s, carrying a string of successes, including While You Were Sleeping (replacing actress Demi Moore, who was originally scheduled to star), Miss Congeniality and Two Weeks Notice. Bullock received 11 million dollars for Speed 2[5] and 17.5 million dollars for Miss Congeniality 2: Armed & Fabulous.[5]

Bullock was selected as one of People magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People in the World in 1996 and 1999, and was also ranked #58 in Empire magazine's Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time list. She was presented with the 2002 Raul Julia Award for Excellence[7] for her efforts, as the executive producer of the sitcom The George Lopez Show, in helping expand career openings for Hispanic talent in the media and entertainment industry.

In 2004, Bullock had a supporting role in the film Crash. She received positive reviews for her performance, with some critics suggesting that it was the best performance of her career.[citation needed] Bullock later appeared in The Lake House, a romantic drama also starring her Speed co-star, Keanu Reeves; it was released on June 16, 2006. Because their film characters are separated throughout the film (due to the plot revolving around time travel), Bullock and Reeves were only on set together for two weeks during filming.[8] The same year, Bullock appeared in Infamous, playing author Harper Lee. Bullock also stars in Premonition with Julian McMahon, which was released in March 2007.[9]

Bullock received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on March 24, 2005. In January 2007, Bullock was named the 14th richest woman in entertainment by Forbes, with a net worth of $85 million.[10]

[edit] Entrepreneurship

Bullock currently runs her own production company, Fortis Films. Her sister, Gesine Bullock-Prado, is president of the company and her father, John Bullock, is its CEO.[11] She was an executive producer of George Lopez which garnered a lucrative syndication deal that banked Bullock some $10 million. She also made sporadic "cameo" appearances in the show as "Accident Amy," a factory worker prone to accidents in the workplace. Bullock tried to produce a film based on F.X. Toole's short story Million-Dollar Baby, but couldn't interest studios in a female boxing drama.[12] The story was eventually filmed by Clint Eastwood as the Oscar-winning film Million Dollar Baby (2004). Bullock's production company, Fortis Films, will produce her next movie, All About Steve. In the meantime, she tends to her Austin restaurant, Bess Bistro, and its first merchandising tie-in, a line of organic candles.

[edit] Personal life

Bullock at Cannes in 2002
Bullock at Cannes in 2002

Bullock was once engaged to actor Tate Donovan whom she met while filming Love Potion No. 9. Their relationship lasted four years.[5] She had previously dated football player Troy Aikman, blues guitarist Guy Forsythe, Austin musician Bob Schneider (for two years)[5] and film co-stars, Ryan Gosling and Matthew McConaughey. McConaughey and Bullock met each other while filming A Time to Kill and became friends, dating for a while. Some notable celebrity friends include Heather Burns and Hugh Grant.

Bullock married motorcycle builder and Monster Garage host Jesse James on July 16, 2005. They had met while Bullock had arranged for her ten-year-old godson to meet James as a Christmas present. On her husband and her marriage, Bullock has commented:

So basically through a courtship of letters... I learned about a human being. It was not something I wanted, needed, or looked for, but because he was a stronger person than I was, spiritually and on a tolerance level, I was lucky enough that he educated me... I always thought of marriage as a death sentence, that there'd be a ball and chain, and you'd be told, "You need to stop doing these things and become a good little wife." Now people say "Oh my God you're going to have sex with one person the rest of your life!" I hope I have sex with him for the rest of my life - because I like it![13]

On December 20, 2000, Bullock survived the crash of a chartered business jet at Jackson Hole Airport. The aircraft hit a snowbank instead of the runway, resulting in both the nose gear and nose cone being ripped off, the right wing partially separated from the aircraft and the left wing bent back. When the September 11, 2001 attacks occurred, Bullock was staying at the Soho Grand hotel, twelve blocks from the World Trade Center. She saw the attacks from her hotel bedroom window and went to a nearby hospital to offer help. As all phone lines in New York City were down, she spent the rest of the day using her Palm Pilot to send e-mails on behalf of patients wanting to contact their families.

Bullock has twice donated $1 million to the American Red Cross, first to its Liberty Disaster Relief Fund and four years later in response to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunamis.[14]

In October 2004, Bullock won a multimillion dollar judgment against Benny Daneshjou, the builder of her Lake Austin Texas mansion; the jury ruled the house was uninhabitable. It has since been torn down and rebuilt, and her Porsche 911 Turbo replaced by a Toyota Prius.[15] Bullock also owns a house on Tybee Island, Georgia, which is a few miles from Savannah, Georgia. After four years of preparation, Bullock's first restaurant, Bess,[16] opened in November 2006 in Austin, Texas.

She has a scar in the corner of her left eye which she received as a child when she fell into a lake and cut her head on a rock.

On April 22, 2007, a woman was lying outside James and Bullock's Southern California home in Orange County. When James confronted the woman, she ran inside her 2004 silver Mercedes and tried to run him over 3 to 4 times. The woman is said to be an obsessed fan of Sandra Bullock. The woman, Marcia Diana Valentine, was arrested on investigation of assault with a deadly weapon.[17] In May, Bullock won a three-year restraining order against the woman. Valentine pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated assault and stalking.[18]

On April 18, 2008, while Bullock was in Massachusetts shooting the film The Proposal, she and her husband were in an SUV that was hit head on by a drunken driver. There were no injuries.[19]

[edit] Filmography

Year Film Role Other notes
1987 Hangmen Lisa Edwards
1989 Religion, Inc. Debby
Bionic Showdown: The Six Million Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman Kate Mason
Who Shot Patakango? Devlin Moran
The Preppie Murder Stacy
1990 Lucky/Chances Maria Santangelo
1992 Who Do I Gotta Kill? Lori
When the Party's Over Amanda
Love Potion No. 9 Diane Farrow
1993 The Vanishing Diane Shaver
The Thing Called Love Linda Lue Linden
Demolition Man Lt. Lenina Huxley
Fire on the Amazon Alyssa Rothman
Wrestling Ernest Hemingway Elaine
1994 Speed Annie Porter
1995 While You Were Sleeping Lucy Eleanor Moderatz Nominated - Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
The Net Angela Bennett/Ruth Marx
1996 Two If by Sea Roz
A Time to Kill Ellen Roark
In Love and War Agnes von Kurowsky
1997 Speed 2: Cruise Control Annie Porter
1998 Hope Floats Birdee Pruitt Also executive producer
Practical Magic Sally Owens
The Prince of Egypt (Animated Film) Miriam voice
1999 Forces of Nature Sarah Lewis
2000 Gun Shy Judy Tipp
28 Days Gwen Cummings
Miss Congeniality Gracie Hart/Gracie Lou Freebush Nominated - Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
2002 Murder by Numbers Cassie Mayweather/Jessica Marie Hudson Also executive producer
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood Siddalee 'Sidda' Walker
Two Weeks Notice Lucy Kelson Also producer
2004 Crash Jean Cabot Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
2005 Loverboy Mrs. Harker
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed & Fabulous Gracie Hart Also producer
2006 The Lake House Kate Forster
Infamous Nelle Harper Lee
2007 Premonition Linda Quinn Hanson
2008 All About Steve Mary Horowitz post-production; also producer
2009 The Proposal[20] Lead filming
Kiss & Tango[21] pre-production

[edit] Awards

Year Award Show Category Result
1994 Razzie Awards Worst Actress for Demolition Man Nominated
1995 Saturn Awards Best Actress for Speed Won
1995 Golden Apple Female Star of the Year Won
1995 Blimp Award Favorite Movie Actress for Speed Won
1995 MTV Movie Awards Best Female Performance for Speed Won
1995 MTV Movie Awards Best On-Screen Duo for Speed Won
1995 MTV Movie Awards Most Desirable Female for Speed Won
1995 MTV Movie Awards Best Kiss for Speed Nominated
1996 American Comedy Awards Funniest Actress in a Motion Picture (Leading Role) for While You Were Sleeping Nominated
1996 Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical for While You Were Sleeping Nominated
1996 MTV Movie Awards Best Female Performance for While You Were Sleeping Nominated
1996 MTV Movie Awards Most Desirable Female for While You Were Sleeping Nominated
1996 MTV Movie Awards Most Desirable Female for The Net Nominated
1996 People's Choice Awards Favorite Motion Picture Actress Won
1997 Blockbuster Entertainment Award Favorite Actress - Suspense for A Time To Kill Won
1997 MTV Movie Awards Best Female Performance for A Time To Kill Nominated
1997 People's Choice Awards Favorite Motion Picture Actress Won
1998 Razzie Awards Worst Actress for Speed 2: Cruise Control Nominated
1998 Razzie Awards Worst Screen Couple for Speed 2: Cruise Control Nominated
1999 Lone Star Film & Television Award Best Actress for Hope Floats Won
1998 People's Choice Awards Favorite Motion Picture Actress Won
1999 ""Teen Choice Awards Film - Choice Hissy Fit for Forces of Nature Won

[edit] References

  1. ^ Winfrey tops female celebrity rich list. 999today.com. 19 January 2007.
  2. ^ Sandra Bullock genealogy. Rootsweb.com.
  3. ^ Sandra Bullock Biography (1964-). FilmReference.com.
  4. ^ Die Nette von nebenan (German). Kino.de. Retrieved on 2006-07-15.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Revealed with Jules Asner #34: Sandra Bullock E! Channel Special (2000) at the Internet Movie Database
  6. ^ White, Ken (2006-11-02). Alumni Database. ECU School of Theatre and Dance. Retrieved on 2007-02-05.
  7. ^ Shor, Donna (November 2002). Around Town. Washington Life Magazine. Retrieved on 2007-02-05.
  8. ^ Topel, Fred. Speed Demons. The Wave Magazine. Retrieved on 2006-06-17.
  9. ^ Whipp, Glenn. "Dead or alive?", San Bernardino County Sun, 2007-01-20. Retrieved on 2007-02-05. 
  10. ^ Goldman, Lea and Kiri Blakeley. "The 20 Richest Women In Entertainment." Forbes.com. 18 January 2007.
  11. ^ Sandra Bullock. Yahoo!. Retrieved on 2007-02-05.
  12. ^ World Entertainment News Network (2005-03-08). Bullock Fires Back at "Million Dollar Baby" Reports. Movie/TV News. IMDb. Retrieved on 2006-05-25.
  13. ^ Sandra Bullock on Married Life. Vanity Fair. Retrieved on 2006-07-03.
  14. ^ Sandra Bullock donates $1 mil for tsunami. CNN (January 2005).
  15. ^ Pearce, Garth (2007-01-27). On the Move: Sandra Bullock. Times Online. Retrieved on 2007-02-05.
  16. ^ Bess Bistro.com.
  17. ^ Lee, Ken. "Cops: Woman Tried to Kill Sandra Bullock's Husband." People.com. 26 April 2007.
  18. ^ Stalker denies attempt to run over Sandra Bullock's husband, LondonNet, 13 June 2007. Accessed on 2008-01-29.
  19. ^ Sandra Bullock's Car Hit Head-On, "WCVB TV Boston", 19 April 2008, Accessed on 2008-04-19.
  20. ^ The Proposal (Disney) Bullock. Yahoo.com. April 2008.
  21. ^ Byrnes, Brian and Nicole Sperling Bullock dances with 'Tango' pic. HollywoodReporter.com. 11 January 2007.

[edit] External links

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Persondata
NAME Bullock, Sandra
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Bullock, Sandra Annette
SHORT DESCRIPTION
DATE OF BIRTH 1964-7-26
PLACE OF BIRTH Arlington, Virginia
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH