She went on to star in several independent films. She impressed Director Alan J. Levi with her performance and he offered her a part in the made-for-television film ‘Bionic Showdown: The Six Million Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman’. Sandra finally got her chance to play the lead role in the NBC television version of the movie ‘Working Girl’.
This was just the beginning of her amazing rise to stardom. She landed the role of Lieutenant Lenina Huxley in 1993’s sci-fi action film ‘Demolition Man’, starring Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes.
Her First Time on Stage Was At 5 Years Old
The lucky Germans were first to get a glimpse of the talented Sandra Bullock. Despite making her first big-screen appearance in the romantic comedy film “Love Potion No. 9”, Sandra's first stage performance was at the Nuremberg opera. Nonetheless, her debut on stage at such a young age gave her the inspiration and passion for acting. She would since appear on a regular basis at the Staatstheater Nürnberg.
Bullock has a younger sister. Her name is Gesine Bullock-Prado, and in 1995 she served as the vice president for Sandra's production company, Fortis Films. Since then Sandra Bullock has not only starred in but also produced some movies, including 'Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous' and 'All About Steve'.
She Dropped-out of College
Not everything was always glamorous for the beautiful Sandra Bullock. In fact, before all the fame and fortune, Sandra used to work as a bartender while living in New York in order to support her acting passion. Using the money she made she enrolled in acting classes where she was mentored by the successful acting teacher Sanford Meisner. Meisner (also known as Sandy), was an American actor and teacher. If the Meisner technique sounds familiar to you, well he's the one responsible for it.
It didn’t take long for Sandra to get her chance in an off-Broadway production. She appeared in several student films, and soon later landed a role in Larry Ketron's play “No Time Flat” which was performed at the WPA Theater in New York. That's when her acting career took off.
The Bionic Woman
After she got herself an agent and appeared in a few low-budget movies and television shows, she landed a part in the 1989 made-for-television film 'Bionic Showdown: The Six Million Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman' which then led her to play Tess McGill in the short-lived NBC television adaptation of the film Working Girl.
From there on, she would appear in several films before rising to early prominence with a supporting role in 1993's 'Demolition Man'. She was now playing in the big league.
Bullock's Big Performance
The now-celebrity-status Bullock managed to grab the role of Annie Porter in the action-thriller movie film 'Speed', even when up against far more established names in the business. The studio initially considered hiring Halle Berry or Ellen DeGeneres as Annie, but eventually went with Sandra Bullock, due to her great chemistry with Keanu Reeves.
This was no ordinary audition either. The film included many action scenes and the chemistry between the leads had to feel real. Sandra recalls that they had to do "all these really physical scenes together, rolling around on the floor and stuff." just to get the part.