Funny, charismatic, classy, and a bit all over the place – elements that describe both Sandra Bullock as well as her definitive film, Miss Congeniality. And in a long time, it was she who was the coveted star power headlining the film making men shrink in her presence instead of it being the other way round.
Hugh Jackman, who was relatively new to the arena of Hollywood, found it a challenge to survive an audition, let alone cinch the part which would have catapulted him to a very different level of fame in the 2000s. Fortunately, Jackman went on to land another role the same year that made him a legend in his own right.
Hugh Jackman Blundered an Audition With Sandra Bullock
The $212.7 million film which starred the actress in one of her most remembered roles ever broke down many barriers that limited actresses to that box of beauty, feminine grace, poised performances, and at the riskiest: the role of the femme fatale. For a change, the Sandra Bullock film invented another field in which women could operate apart from the aforementioned. Armed with wit, intelligence, and none of the grace, Miss Congeniality took over the industry, becoming relevant to generations decades down the line.
And the iconic film was witness to the then-aspiring actor, Hugh Jackman who would be recognized as Wolverine not too long after the premiere of Miss Congeniality. At the time, however, this self-described “nobody” counted himself lucky to even be sharing the same space as Bullock and thought, “Holy s–t! She’s amazing! And so quick and fast. I’m not even vaguely up to speed here.” In an interview with Variety, he later revealed, “I was pedaling as fast as I could, but I didn’t know the script well enough.”
Fortunately, Bryan Singer’s X-Men was waiting just around the corner with the part of Wolverine destined to be molded and made iconic by the Australian actor.
Hugh Jackman Recalls Meeting Sandra Bullock in the 90s
When the casting for Miss Congeniality was underway in the late 90s, fresh faces populated the casting room. Sandra Bullock was already the lead in the film. What remained was the matter of finding the perfect male lead who would complement her screen presence and be an intriguing love interest. “I was impressed that she was in there. I didn’t expect her to be in there. I’m guessing eight people she tested with,” Jackman later said.
The part that Hugh Jackman auditioned for then went to Benjamin Bratt who ironically recalled how he “wanted to be anything but an actor.” On the other hand, Foxverse helmed by Bryan Singer not only launched Hugh Jackman as the clawed mutant but also went on to spin out a $6 billion franchise that ended the actor’s run as Logan after 17 years in the eponymous movie. Jackman will reprise his role for one last time alongside Ryan Reynolds in the upcoming film, Deadpool 3.
Source: Variety
