Sandra Bullock

Sandra Bullock

born on 26/7/1964 in Arlington, VA, United States

Sandra Bullock

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Sandra Bullock
Birth name Sandra Annette Bullock
Born July 26 1964
Years active 1986present
Spouse(s) Jesse G. James (2005-present)

Sandra Annette Bullock (pronounced /blk/; born July 26, 1964) is an American actress who came to fame in the 1990s, after roles in successful films such as Speed and While You Were Sleeping. She has since established her career as a well-known leading Hollywood actress, with films such as Miss Congeniality and Crash, which received critical acclaim. In 2007 she was ranked as the 14th richest female celebrity with an estimated fortune of $85 million.[1] In 2009, at the age of 45, Bullock starred in the most financially successful films of her career, The Proposal and The Blind Side thus earning herself a Golden Globe nomination for each performance at the 67th Golden Globe Awards.[2]

Early life

Sandra Annette Bullock was born in Arlington, Virginia, the daughter of Helga D. Meyer, a German opera singer and part-time vocal coach, and John W. Bullock, a voice coach and executive from Alabama.[3][4] Bullock's maternal grandfather was a rocket scientist from Nuremberg, Germany.[5] Bullock lived in Nuremberg until age twelve, where she sang in the opera's children's choir at the Staatstheater Nürnberg.[6] She frequently traveled with her mother on her opera tours, and lived in Germany and other parts of Europe for much of her childhood. She is fluent in German. 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.[7] She graduated in 1982 and enrolled in East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina. She left East Carolina during her senior year (Spring 1986), only three credits short of graduating, to pursue an acting career.[7] She moved to Manhattan to pursue auditions and supported herself with a variety of odd jobs (bartender, cocktail waitress, coat checker).[7]

Bullock later completed her coursework and attended East Carolina University.[8]

Career

While in New York, Bullock took acting classes at the Neighborhood Playhouse. She appeared in several student films and later landed a role in an Off-Broadway play No Time Flat.[7] 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 stayed in Los Angeles 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 later appeared in several films such as Love Potion No. 9 (1992), The Thing Called Love (1993) and Fire on the Amazon (in which 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 remove).[7]

One of Bullock's first notable movie appearances was in the science-fiction/action movie Demolition Man (1993), which 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), and Miss Congeniality. Bullock received $11 million dollars for Speed 2: Cruise Control[7] and $17.5 million dollars for Miss Congeniality 2: Armed & Fabulous.[7]

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 Raúl Juliá Award for Excellence[9] 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. She also made several appearances on the show as Accident Amy, an accident-prone employee at the factory Lopez's character manages. In 2002, she starred opposite Hugh Grant in the global hit Two Weeks Notice.

In 2005, 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. 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.[10] The same year, Bullock appeared in Infamous, playing author Harper Lee. Bullock also starred in Premonition with Julian McMahon, which was released in March 2007.[11] This past year has proved to be especially good for Bullock giving the actress two record highs in her career as earlier in year she released The Proposal, a huge hit that has taken in more than $314 million at the box office worldwide making it her most successful picture to date.[12] In November 2009, Bullock starred in The Blind Side, which opened at #2 behind New Moon with $34.2 million, making it her highest opening weekend ever. The Blind Side is unique in that it had a 17.6% increase at the box office its second weekend, and has taken the top spot of the boxoffice in its third weekend. The movie cost $29 million to make according the Box Office Mojo. It has grossed over $129 million to date.[13]

Entrepreneurship

Bullock runs her own production company, Fortis Films. Her sister, Gesine Bullock-Prado, was president of the company but has since quit the business and moved to Montpelier, Vermont, where she opened a pastry shop.[14] Her father, John Bullock, is the company's CEO.[15] Bullock was an executive producer of The George Lopez Show which garnered a lucrative syndication deal that banked her some $10 million (co-produced with Robert Borden).[16] Bullock tried to produce a film based on F.X. Toole's short story, Million-Dollar Baby, but could not interest the studios in a female boxing drama.[17] The story was eventually adapted and directed 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.

Since November 2006, Bullock has owned an Austin restaurant, Bess Bistro.[18] She later opened another business in downtown Austin, called Walton's Fancy and Staple; it is a bakery and florist which also offers services such as event planning.[19]

Personal life

Bullock was once engaged to actor Tate Donovan, whom she met while filming Love Potion No. 9; their relationship lasted four years.[7] She previously dated football player Troy Aikman, Austin musician Bob Schneider (for two years),[7] and actors Matthew McConaughey, Ryan Gosling and her frequent co-star Keanu Reeves.

Bullock married motorcycle builder and Monster Garage host Jesse James on July 16, 2005. They met when Bullock arranged for her ten-year-old godson to meet James as a Christmas present.

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 separating from the aircraft, and the left wing being bent back.[20]

Bullock has been a public supporter of the American Red Cross, twice donating $1 million, first to its Liberty Disaster Relief Fund and four years later in response to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunamis.[21]

In October 2004, Bullock won a multimillion dollar judgment against Benny Daneshjou, the builder of her Lake Austin Texas home; the jury ruled the house was uninhabitable. It has since been torn down and rebuilt.[22] Bullock also owns a house on Tybee Island, which is a few miles from Savannah, Georgia.

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. 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.[23] In May, Bullock won a three-year restraining order against the woman. Valentine pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated assault and stalking.[24]

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 (drivers side offset) at moderate speed by a drunken driver. Vehicle damage was not catastrophic and there were no injuries.[25]

In November 2009, Bullock entered into a custody battle with her husband's ex wife. Bullock's husband, Jesse James has a child with a former porn star Janine Lindemulder.[26]

Filmography

Year Film Role Other notes
1987 Hangmen Lisa Edwards Rugadh í i Virginia
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
2005 Farm of the Yard Amanda the Tyrannosaurus Rex voice
Loverboy Mrs. Harker
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous Gracie Hart Also producer
Crash Jean Cabot Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
2006 The Lake House Kate Forster
Infamous Nelle Harper Lee
2007 Premonition Linda Hanson
2009 Farm of the Yard: Saddles for Wild Horses Amanda the Tyrannosaurus Rex voice
The Proposal Margaret Tate Nominated Satellite Award for Best Actress Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
Nominated - Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
All About Steve Mary Horowitz also producer
The Blind Side Leigh Anne Tuohy Nominated Washington DC Area Film Critics Association for Best Actress
Nominated Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress
Nominated - Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Drama
Nominated Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Nominated San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress

Awards and other recognition

Many of Bullock's films have been financial successes. According to The Numbers, her fifteen films from the 1990s grossed over $770 million, placing her among the Top 100 Stars at the Box Office;[27] as of 2009, her films have grossed over $2.9 billion worldwide[28]

Critics, while praising her screen persona,[29] have been less receptive to her films. As of the 2009 release of The Proposal, Mark Kermode said she's made only three "good" films in her career—Speed, While You Were Sleeping, and Crash, and says "she's funny, she's gorgeous, it's impossible not to love her and yet she makes rotten film after rotten film after rotten film."[30]

Year Award Show Category Result
1994 Razzie Awards Worst Supporting Actress for Demolition Man  Nominated 
1995 Saturn Awards Best Actress for Speed Won
Golden Apple Female Star of the Year Won
Blimp Award Favorite Movie Actress for Speed Won
MTV Movie Awards Best Female Performance for Speed Won
Best On-Screen Duo for Speed Won
Most Desirable Female for Speed Won
Best Kiss for Speed Nominated
1996 American Comedy Awards Funniest Actress in a Motion Picture (Leading Role) for While You Were Sleeping Nominated
Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical for While You Were Sleeping Nominated
MTV Movie Awards Best Female Performance for While You Were Sleeping Nominated
Most Desirable Female for While You Were Sleeping Nominated
Most Desirable Female for The Net Nominated
People's Choice Awards Favorite Motion Picture Actress Won
1997 Blockbuster Entertainment Award Favorite Actress - Suspense for A Time To Kill Won
MTV Movie Awards Best Female Performance for A Time To Kill Nominated
People's Choice Awards Favorite Motion Picture Actress Won
1998 Razzie Awards Worst Actress for Speed 2: Cruise Control Nominated
Worst Screen Couple for Speed 2: Cruise Control Nominated
1999 Lone Star Film & Television Award Best Actress for Hope Floats Won
People's Choice Awards Favorite Motion Picture Actress Won
Teen Choice Awards Film - Choice Hissy Fit for Forces of Nature Won
2000 Bambi Awards Film international Won
Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical for Miss Congeniality Nominated
2001 American Comedy Awards Funniest Actress in a Motion Picture (Leading Role) for Miss Congeniality Won
Satellite Awards Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical for Miss Congeniality Nominated
Blockbuster Entertainment Award Favorite Actress - Comedy for Miss Congeniality Won
Teen Choice Awards Film - Choice Wipeout for Miss Congeniality Won
2005 Teen Choice Awards Film - Choice Movie Actress: Comedy for Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous Won
2006 People's Choice Awards Favorite Female Movie Star Won
Black Reel Awards Best Ensemble for Crash Won
Critics' Choice Award Best Acting Ensemble for Crash Won
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for Crash Won
2009 Satellite Awards Satellite Award for Best Actress Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for The Proposal TBD
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association for Best Actress for The Blind Side Nominated
Golden Globe Award Golden Globe Award for Best Actress Motion Picture Drama for The Blind Side Nominated
Golden Globe Award Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for The Proposal Nominated

References

  1. Winfrey tops female celebrity rich list, 999today.com. January 19, 2007.
  2. http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b158058_complete_list_of_2010_golden_globe.html
  3. Sandra Bullock genealogy from freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com
  4. Sandra Bullock Biography
  5. A German-American Miss Congeniality - Sandra Bullock. German-American Heritage Foundation of the USA. Retrieved on 2009-06-19.
  6. Die Nette von nebenan (German). Kino.de. Retrieved on July 15, 2006.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 Revealed with Jules Asner #34: Sandra Bullock E! Channel Special (2000) at The Internet Movie Database
  8. Working Girl (Spring/Summer 1990). Retrieved on 2009-11-09.
  9. Shor, Donna (November 2002). Around Town. Washington Life Magazine. Retrieved on February 5, 2007.
  10. Topel, Fred. Speed Demons. The Wave Magazine. Retrieved on June 17, 2006.
  11. Whipp, Glenn, Dead or alive?, San Bernardino County Sun, January 20, 2007. URL accessed on February 5, 2007.
  12. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=proposal.htm
  13. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=blindside.htm
  14. G. Bullock-Prado, Confections of a Closet Master Baker: One Woman's Sweet Journey from Unhappy Hollywood Executive to Contented Country Baker, (New York: Broadway Books, 2009).
  15. Sandra Bullock. Yahoo!. Retrieved on February 5, 2007.
  16. Robert Borden. imdb. Retrieved on December 5, 2008.
  17. World Entertainment News Network (March 8, 2005). 8, 2005#celeb3 Bullock Fires Back at "Million Dollar Baby" Reports. Movie/TV News. IMDb. Retrieved on May 25, 2006.
  18. Bess Bistro, a restaurant owned by Bullock
  19. About Walton's Fancy and Staple, from their official website
  20. Accident Brief DEN01FA030. NTSB (December 2000).
  21. Sandra Bullock donates $1 mil for tsunami. CNN (January 2005).
  22. Pearce, Garth (January 27, 2007). On the Move: Sandra Bullock. Times Online. Retrieved on February 5, 2007.
  23. Lee, Ken. "Cops: Woman Tried to Kill Sandra Bullock's Husband." People.com. April 26, 2007.
  24. Stalker denies attempt to run over Sandra Bullock's husband, LondonNet, June 13, 2007. Accessed on January 29, 2008.
  25. Sandra Bullock's Car Hit Head-On. WCVB TV Boston (April 19, 2008). Retrieved on April 19, 2008.
  26. Sandra Bullock Custody Battle. National Ledger (November 7, 2009). Retrieved on November 19, 2009.
  27. 1990s Top 100 Stars at the Box Office from The Numbers
  28. Sandra Bullock from The Numbers
  29. Sandra Bullock is the movies' Miss Versatility. Newsday (June 11, 2009). Retrieved on 2009-08-01.
  30. Loving Sandra Bullock. Sandra Bullock got two nomination for Golden Globe Awards for "The Proposal" and "The Blind Side". Kermode Uncut [Video] Blog. BBC (24 July 2009). Retrieved on 2009-08-01.

External links

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This page was last modified 17.12.2009 15:21:24

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