Top 10 Sandra Bullock

Demolition Man (1993)

Success didn’t come overnight for Sandra Bullock. It wasn’t until she was 29 years-old that a handful of bit parts led to the role of Lieutenant Lenina Huxley, in the sci-fi movie Demolition Man, giving Bullock her big break. Starring Hollywood heavyweights Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes, the film is set in 2032 when violence has been eliminated from society. Eliminated, that is, until Phoenix – a convicted killer who was frozen for his crimes in 1996 – is thawed out for parole and returns to his murderous rampage.

Speed (1994)

In a nutshell: a bomb has been rigged to a city bus and will explode if the bus slows below 50 miles per hour. With a storyline like that is it any wonder that Speed was a critical and commercial success? Not just a mere action movie, Speed won two Academy Awards for Best Sound and Best Sound Effects Editing. Even so, there were plenty of actresses who turned down the role of Annie Porter – Meg Ryan, Demi Moore, Julia Roberts, Winona Ryder and Cameron Diaz to name just a few – before Bullock stepped up. Taking the role seriously, Bullock actually learnt to drive a bus for the film and passed her test first go.

While You Were Sleeping (1994)

Bullock replaced Demi Moore as the lead role in this classic rom-com, saying that she could relate to Lucy because she felt she had similarities to the character. Bullock received a Golden Globe Best Actress nomination for playing the lonely, hopeless romantic who gets mistaken for a comatose man’s fiancée. Starring opposite Bill Pullman and Peter Gallagher, Bullock has the rom-com role down to a tee.

A Time to Kill (1996)

To steer clear of typecasting, Bullock appeared in this serious drama based on John Grisham's 1989 novel. Following the story of a father on trial for murdering his 10 year-old daughter’s rapists, the film explores racial discrimination and justice in America’s Deep South. Directed by Joel Schumacher, the film features an impressive cast including a young Matthew McConaughey, Kevin Spacey and Samuel L. Jackson. Jackson received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as the avenging father.

Hope Floats (1998)

It’s a painful experience to watch someone being told live on TV that their other half is cheating on them with their best friend. Hope Floats takes that scenario and turns it into a heartwarming comedy, with Bullock starring as Birdie Pruitt – humiliated on camera, and then returning to her small-town home as a single mother of one. Directed by Forest Whitaker – the Best Actor Oscar-winner for Last King Of Scotland – Hope Floats is a rom-com gem, perfect for a Sunday night on the sofa.

Practical Magic (1998)

Bullock and Nicole Kidman play sisters Gillian and Sally in this film about modern-day witches. Director Griffin Dunne justified his casting of two not-very-similar-looking actresses by saying that, historically, witch siblings appeared very different. According to Bullock, in the scene where Gillian and Sally get drunk with their aunts, the actresses actually got drunk, courtesy of some very bad tequila brought by Kidman.

Miss Congeniality (2000)

Bullock was born to play the role of Gracie Hart, a dishevelled FBI agent who’s picked to go undercover at a beauty pageant. Much of the filming was done in Austin, Texas, and some scenes were filmed at Bullock’s house there. She juggled acting with producing the film too, which grossed $212 million worldwide and earned her a second Best Actress Golden Globe nomination. Also starring Michael Caine and Benjamin Bratt, the film’s success led to the 2005 sequel Miss Congeniality 2: Armed And Fabulous, which – although slammed by critics – was still a box office hit.

Two Weeks Notice (2002)

It was a match made in rom-com heaven when Bullock teamed up with Hugh Grant for this charming comedy about an environmental lawyer and billionaire businessman with conflicting lifestyles. The movie was originally set for filming in Toronto to keep costs down, but Bullock insisted it should be made in New York City – a 17 week shoot entirely on location – in order to help the economy of the city after the devastating impact of 9/11. In honour of the film’s contribution, 11th December 2002 was named ‘Two Weeks Notice’ Day by the Mayor of New York City.

Crash (2004)

Another more serious role, this time in a racially-centered drama about how the ripple effect of a series of events touches vastly different people living in L.A. With a tiny budget of $6 million, money was tight, but Bullock was so determined to appear in Crash that she bought her own plane ticket to fly to the set. To keep the cost down director Paul Haggis filmed in his own house, borrowed a set from the TV show Monk, and even used his own car in parts of the film. The movie was shot in just 36 days and went on to win three Oscars for Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay and Best Editing, controversially beating the critically-favoured Brokeback Mountain for Best Picture.

Infamous (2006)

Bullock joined another long list of stars for Infamous, including Toby Young, Jeff Daniels, Isabella Rossellini, Sigourney Weaver, Gwyneth Paltrow, and an almost unrecognisable Daniel Craig. It’s a semi-biographical story of how Breakfast At Tiffany's author Truman Capote becomes embroiled while researching the horrific murder of a Kansas family. The film was inevitably compared to 2005’s Capote, and while Philip Seymour Hoffman won a Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Capote, some critics said Young’s take was even better.

Tegan Kniveton