Can you believe it’s been 31 years since Sandra Bullock made her first movie, Hangmen? Since then, the actor has become part of our cultural consciousness as the ultimate girl next door through roles that — though sometimes silly and sometimes serious — have always been down-to-earth (yes, even Gravity).
From her highest highs of her Oscar win for The Blind Side to her lowest lows of finding out her husband was cheating on her in the most public of ways while they were in the middle of adopting a baby, Bullock has always had us rooting for her. She’s funny, she’s talented, she’s self-deprecating, she’s a great mom, and she’s a major Hollywood player. She has moved far beyond so-called “chick flicks” into the realms of murder mysteries and science fiction.
In honor of her 53rd birthday, here are some amazing, random facts you have probably never heard about the woman we all wish was our BFF.
A version of this article was originally published in July 2017.
She Has a Heart of Gold
Quietly, it seems, Bullock has reportedly donated more than $6 million to charities.
According to E! News, she pledged $1 million to help victims of Hurricane Harvey, and since 2001, she's given a total of $5 million to the Red Cross to help with relief efforts.
It doesn't end there. Bullock also helped build a clinic in New Orleans' oldest public high school.
She Put George Lopez on the Map
Bullock was the executive producer of George Lopez from 2002 to 2007 (she also appeared in three episodes). Bullock pulled Lopez from standup obscurity and wouldn't take no for an answer when pitching his sitcom.
"From the time Sandy and I first laid eyes on each other, she has been nothing but a person of her word and embracing of me and my family," Lopez told People magazine in 2006.
She Works Behind the Scenes, Too
Bullock has executive produced four feature-length films and two TV shows, including Hope Floats, Murder by Numbers, The Proposal, Our Brand Is Crisis, Sudbury and George Lopez.
She has also produced six flicks: Our Father, Gun Shy, Miss Congeniality, Two Weeks Notice, Miss Congeniality 2 and All About Steve.
She’s Fluent in German
Bullock's mom, Helga, is a German opera singer, and the actor lived overseas touring with her parents until she was a teen.
She’s Allergic to Horses
Bullock discovered she's allergic to horses in a particularly inconvenient way: while filming a horse scene for the movie Two If by Sea.
She’s a Restaurateur
Bullock opened a Cajun restaurant with Matthew McConaughey when they were dating. She later opened Bess Bistro, which closed in 2015, but her bakery, , is still around.
She Survived a Plane Crash
Bullock and her then-boyfriend, musician Bob Schneider, narrowly escaped death when their small plane crashed at the Jackson Hole, Wyoming, airport in 2000. No one was hurt, but the plane suffered extensive damage to the wings and landing gear.
She Hit a Box Office Record With ‘The Blind Side’
Bullock was the first female lead to bring a film past the $200 million mark with her Oscar-winning movie The Blind Side. It went on to gross over $300 million worldwide.
She’s a Member of the Pantsuit Nation
She's worn some form of a pantsuit in all of her biggest roles! Speed, Miss Congeniality, you name it — Bullock has pulled out the power pantsuit whenever possible.
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