Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Hugh Jackman Reveals He Bombed His 'Miss Congeniality' Audition Opposite Sandra Bullock

Hugh Jackman Reveals He Bombed His 'Miss Congeniality' Audition Opposite Sandra Bullock
Dominique Charriau/WireImage/Getty Images; Warner Brothers/Getty Images

A practically unknown Jackman auditioned for the part that ended up going to Benjamin Bratt.

Hugh Jackman is such a big name in Hollywood it's hard to believe he could ever have been passed up for a role. Over the years, the A-lister has graced the Hollywood scene with notable credits in the Oscar nominated film The Prestige and the widely successful X-Men franchise.

But if one could imagine a Hugh Jackman before all of his glitz and glamor, they might envision an up and coming actor attempting to be cast as FBI agent Eric Matthews in the hit turn of the century comedyMiss Congeniality.


Jackman recently revealed in an interview with Variety he auditioned for the movie back in the day, but ultimately didn't make the cut.

The star cites one reason for missing out on the role being he had yet to make a name for himself.

"No one knew X-Men, yet. I was a nobody."

Making matters worse, he only went to the audition at the behest of his agent—who concocted an elaborate plan to use his castingas a bargaining chip for a role Jackman had already been offered.

The actor admits he went in to the audition with no interest in the movie whatsoever. Naturally, things could only spiral downhill from there.

When Jackman first arrived at the studio, he was greeted with a shock. Jackman was immediately directed to read lines across from critically acclaimed actress Sandra Bullock.

The actor recounts how he felt he simply could not keep up with Bullock's performance.

"Holy sh*t! She's amazing! And so quick and fast. I'm not even vaguely up to speed here. I was pedaling as fast as I could, but I didn't know the script well enough."
"It was the first time I'd tested with another actor. 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."

Bullock would go on to eventually become the star of Miss Congeniality and Jackman ultimately missed out on playing the role of her love interest.

Instead, the producers opted to give the honors to actor Benjamin Bratt leaving the X-Men star feeling humiliated.

"That's humiliating when your agent says I don't want you to get this job, but just go get it and then you don't get it."

Meanwhile, fans are disappointed to hear Jackman wasn't cast in the movie.

However, one user came to the defense of Bratt's casting.

Others praised Sandra Bullock.

Luckily for Jackman, by the time he auditioned for Miss Congeniality he had already finished filming his iconic role as X-Men's Wolverine.

Both movies aired in the year 2000 marking two important milestones for both Jackman and Bullock.

Jackman is now set to reprise his role as Wolverine opposite Ryan Reynolds in the upcoming Deadpool 3.

More from Entertainment/tv-and-movies

Gayle King; Alan Shepard
Entertainment Tonight; Space Frontiers/Getty Images

Gayle King Just Compared Herself To Alan Shepard After Her Space Flight—And The Mockery Was Swift

The all-woman Blue Origin space flight doesn't seem to have elicited the response from the public that anyone involved expected, and CBS Mornings host Gayle King isn't having it.

Waves of criticism have been leveled at the participants for their out-of-touch statements about the trip, the expense and pollution of which have struck many as a "let them eat cake" moment in these times.

Keep ReadingShow less
Nancy Mace
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Pre-K Teacher Goes Viral For Her Clapback After Nancy Mace's 'LGBTQ' Alphabet Gripe

South Carolina MAGA Republican Representative Nancy Mace has used her hatred to make a name for herself, and "transphobe" and "TERF" are an integral part of that name.

If Mace isn't spouting transphobic slurs on the floor of Congress or in public appearances in the Midwest, she's posting her hate online.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at rally
@Acyn/Blue Sky

Someone Flew A 'Trump Country' Banner Over Bernie And AOC's Packed Rally—And AOC Clapped Back Hard

Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez had the perfect response after one of President Donald Trump's supporters flew a banner reading "Folsom Is Trump Country" over a Northern California rally she held with her colleague, Vermont Independent Senator Bernie Sanders.

She brushed off a warning that they were entering “Trump country” as the crowd swelled in deep-red Folsom, a Republican stronghold nestled in Representative Kevin Kiley’s district. Just to drive the point home, a small plane buzzed above the rally, trailing a banner in bold red letters: “Folsom Is Trump Country.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Chuck Grassley speaking to constituents
C-SPAN

MAGA Senator Gets An Earful From Angry Constituents During Iowa Town Hall—And It's Pure Fire

Iowa Republican Senator Chuck Grassley was criticized by his "pissed" constituents during a town hall in Fort Madison this week who demanded why he hasn’t taken stronger action to hold President Donald Trump and his administration accountable as tensions escalate with the Supreme Court.

Those in attendance were galvanized by the Trump administration’s refusal to comply with a unanimous Supreme Court order instructing the White House to “facilitate” the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Garcia was mistakenly deported to a prison in El Salvador known for its reputation for torture.

Keep ReadingShow less

People Share Their One Key Rule For A 'Friends With Benefits' Relationship

Friends with benefits can seem like a good idea... in theory.

Everybody has a carnal itch to scratch now and again.

Keep ReadingShow less