“It’s hard to de-beautify her”: Sandra Bullock Quietly Accepted Humiliating Role in $182M Movie After Director Refused to Cast Nicole Kidman for Being Too Pretty

After rising to prominence following the success of Speed, starring her and Keanu Reeves at the forefront, Sandra Bullock didn’t have to wait long for her next big project. The 1995 rom-com, While You Were Sleeping, was met with immense praise from fans and critics upon its release, thanks to Bullock’s performance as Lucy Eleanor, who did the heavy lifting in the movie.

However, securing the role wasn’t a straightforward task for the actress, as before the Speed Star was even in the discussion, several other A-listers were waiting in line to lead the project.

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Nicole Kidman’s Beauty Ultimately Led to Her Exit From the Critically Acclaimed Movie

After the initial draft of the script was turned down by Megan Ryan’s agency, the story for the rom-com went through substantial changes, and the creators were ready to find the next perfect lead for the film. But before Sandra Bullock entered the mix, director Jon Turteltaub explained that many A-listers were in the talk to lead While You Were Sleeping, with the frontrunners being Nicole Kidman and Demi Moore. However, according to Turteltaub, Kidman was too pretty to play Lucy Eleanor, explaining they can’t imagine big superstars playing a person working in a toll booth.

“I had a meeting with Demi Moore, and we came very close to Nicole Kidman,” Turteltaub said. “But in the back of my mind, I was thinking that they were way too pretty. It’s hard to de-beautify Nicole Kidman.”

Although Demi Moore did come close to signing the deal, things eventually didn’t work out, leaving the door open for Bullock to make her entrance into the critically acclaimed rom-com.

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Sandra Bullock was determined to secure the gig in While You Were Sleeping

Even though the filmmakers didn’t reach out to the Speed Star specifically, Sandra Bullock was determined to take the gig, as she deeply resonated with the story. According to reports, after the actress read the script on the sets of Speed, she reached out to the studios, showcasing her interest in leading the rom-com, as she related to the movie’s theme. Bullock said,

“This was the one thing that came along that I wanted so badly, not as a desperate actor, but just because the story was so sweet.”

Also read: “Nobody liked it”: Sandra Bullock Bagged $182M Critically Acclaimed Movie After Meg Ryan’s Agent Discarded ‘Pathetic, Predatory’ Script Away