Hugh Jackman revealed in a new cover story for Variety that he auditioned for the role of Sandra Bullock‘s love interest, FBI agent Eric Matthews, in the comedy “Miss Congeniality.” The actor did not want to star in the film but his agent made him. Jackman said landing the role would have allowed his agent to negotiate against another movie Jackman had been offered — “Someone Like You” with Ashley Judd.
“No one knew ‘X-Men’ yet,” Jackman said. “I was a nobody.”
Jackman read lines with Bullock for his audition, and she blew him out of the water. He remembers thinking: “‘Holy shit! 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.”
Related Stories
VIP+Cloud Adoption Key to Media Business Exploiting AI
How Frontline Finished a Rough Cut of Election Doc 'The Choice' -- Then Started All Over Again With Kamala Harris
“It was the first time I’d tested [with another actor],” Jackman added. “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.”
Popular on Variety
The role ultimately went to Benjamin Bratt. For Jackman, losing a part he didn’t want in the first place but that his agent thought would be an easy win was a tough pill to swallow.
“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,” Jackman said.
Jackman said “I have not told that story by the way” until now. By the time Jackman auditioned for “Miss Congeniality,” he had already wrapped filming his debut turn as Wolverine in “X-Men”; the comic book blockbuster just hadn’t come out yet. Both films opened in 2000, giving Bullock and Jackman some of their most definitive movie roles.
Read More About:
Jump to CommentsMore from Variety
Grammy Nominations Predictions: Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan and Taylor Swift Will Vie in Top Categories
Does Streaming Hurt Theaters? This Survey Says It Helps
Alex Wolff Opens Up About Channeling Leonard Cohen, Going Aggro for Frat Drama ‘The Line’ and Touring With BFF Billie Eilish
Billie Eilish and Finneas Endorse Kamala Harris for President Because ‘We Can’t Let Extremists Control Our Lives, Our Freedoms and Our Future’
‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ Success Doesn’t Downplay Risky Reboots Coming to Theaters
Most Popular
Inside the 'Joker: Folie à Deux' Debacle: Todd Phillips ‘Wanted Nothing to Do’ With DC on the $200 Million Misfire
‘Kaos’ Canceled After One Season at Netflix
‘Menendez Brothers’ Netflix Doc Reveals Erik’s Drawings of His Abuse and Lyle Saying ‘I Would Much Rather Lose the Murder Trial Than Talk About Our…
Saoirse Ronan Says Losing Luna Lovegood Role in ‘Harry Potter’ Has ‘Stayed With Me Over the Years’: ‘I Was Too Young’ and ‘Knew I Wasn't Going to Get…
Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried to Star in ‘The Housemaid’ Adaptation From Director Paul Feig, Lionsgate
‘Joker 2’ Axed Scene of Lady Gaga’s Lee Kissing a Woman at the Courthouse Because ‘It Had Dialogue in It’ and ‘Got in the Way’ of a Music…
Christopher Nolan’s Next Movie: Matt Damon in Talks to Star in Universal Film Set for Summer 2026
Kathy Bates Won an Oscar and Her Mom Told Her: ‘You Didn't Discover the Cure for Cancer,’ So ‘I Don't Know What All the Excitement Is About…
Kamala Harris Cracks Open a Miller High Life With Stephen Colbert on ‘The Late Show’
‘Skyfall’ Director Sam Mendes Says James Bond Studio Prefers Filmmakers ‘Who Are More Controllable’: ‘I Would Doubt’ I’d…
Must Read
- Film
COVER | Sebastian Stan Tells All: Becoming Donald Trump and Starring in 2024’s Most Controversial Movie
By Andrew Wallenstein 3 weeks
- TV
Menendez Family Slams Netflix’s ‘Monsters’ as ‘Grotesque’ and ‘Riddled With Mistruths’: ‘The Character Assassination of Erik and Lyke Is Repulsive…
- TV
‘Yellowstone’ Season 5 Part 2 to Air on CBS After Paramount Network Debut
- TV
50 Cent Sets Diddy Abuse Allegations Docuseries at Netflix: ‘It’s a Complex Narrative Spanning Decades’ (EXCLUSIVE)
- Shopping
‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Sets Digital and Blu-ray/DVD Release Dates
Sign Up for Variety Newsletters
By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. // This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.Variety Confidential
ncG1vNJzZmiukae2psDYZ5qopV9nfXN%2Bjp%2BgpaVfo7K4v46hrKCgXZ%2BupLfMmqVmpZmowG6vzqeenqaZlrmqwNhmo6irpGK%2FsLjEZqqappSnrm6u1KWjqJubYn5zf5RtaG1oYGx8