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From ‘Speed’ to ‘Bird Box’! Photos of Sandra Bullock’s Captivating Transformation Through the Years
Sandra Bullock has made many transformations throughout her years as a critically acclaimed actress, but her status as one of Hollywood’s most beloved stars remains just the same today. Since she rose to fame in the ’90s, fans have loved watching her switch up her ageless look and incredible style.
Sandra kicked off her career in Hollywood when she began acting in the late ’80s. The film producer, who got her start in opera at age 5 in Germany, appeared in 1987’s Hangmen, 1989’s The Preppie Murder and 1989’s A Fool and His Money.
In 1994, Hollywood fell in love with Sandra when she landed the role of Annie Porter in the hit film Speed. After starring in the role opposite actor Keanu Reeves, Sandra was catapulted into a life filled with fame and superstardom.
Throughout the years, Sandra went on to star in several films, including Miss Congeniality in 2000, 2007’s Premonition, 2009’s The Blind Side, 2013’s Gravity, 2018’s Bird Box and many more. The Ocean’s 8 star also took home three accolades in 2010 for her roles in The Blind Side, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe and a SAG Award.
In 2010, Sandra took on the most important role in her life when she adopted her eldest son, Louis. The Proposal alum transformed into a working mom as she juggled her hectic career and parenthood. Sandra — who was previously married to ex-husband Jesse James from 2005 to 2010 — expanded her family when she adopted her youngest daughter, Laila, in 2015.
Although Sandra’s epic run in showbiz has earned her a spot as a film icon, her fame doesn’t reflect in the way she parents Louis and Laila. “They don’t really know that their mother is a huge movie star, they just know her as mommy,” an insider told Closer in June 2019.
“Louis and Laila are two of the most polite and well-behaved children I know,” the source added at the time. “There’s not an ounce of brattiness, what you might expect from Hollywood kids, and that’s because Sandra is nothing but a mom to them.”
The Academy Award winner especially loves raising her children with her longtime boyfriend, Bryan Randall, whom the source noted is a great influence on Louis and Laila. “They’re raising two great kids, and it’s a testament to both Sandra and Bryan’s down-to-earth parenting skills,” the insider explained.
While Sandra’s acting career has been nothing short of remarkable, the Oscar winner revealed that she planned on taking a step back from Hollywood to focus on her family.
“I take my job very seriously when I’m at work,” she said in an interview with Entertainment Tonight in March 2022. The film icon also shared that committing to doing new films is a “24/7” job. “And I just want to be 24/7 with my babies and my family. That’s where I’m going to be for a while,” she added.
Three months later, the doting mom further explained the reasoning behind her big decision to take time off from her bustling career.
“I don’t want to be beholden to anyone’s schedule other than my own,” the Bullet Train actress told The Hollywood Reporter in June 2022. “I’m so burnt out. I’m so tired, and I’m so not capable of making healthy, smart decisions and I know it.”
Scroll through the gallery below to see the actress’ transformation through the years.
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Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
June 1994
A young Sandra smiled for the photo taken in Santa Monica, California, in June 1994. The actress was taking a bus test at the Santa Monica Bus Lines to promote her hit movie at the time, Speed, which was released in theaters that month.
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SGranitz/WireImage
April 1995
The brunette beauty attended the April 1995 premiere of the film While You Were Sleeping alongside her parents, mom Helga Meyer and dad John W. Bullock.
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Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Image
May 1998
Sandra definitely made a statement at the Hope Floats premiere in May 1998. The stunning actress donned a purple translucent jacket over top a matching minidress. Sandra also wore a pair of super cute strappy heels.
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Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
December 2000
Sandra made her debut at the Miss Congeniality Hollywood premiere in December 2000. She wore a sexy see-through dress with a nude-colored slip underneath. She also framed her face with long bangs and a cute updo.
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James Devaney/WireImage
December 2002
Sandra opted for a short haircut with stylized curls for the Two Weeks Notice premiere in December 2002. The brunette beauty looked riveting in her ultra-long eyelashes and fuchsia lip gloss.
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SGranitz/WireImage
November 2003
For the 12th Annual BAFTA/LA Britannia Awards in November 2003, Sandra looked super sexy in an open-back white dress featuring gold and silver embellishments. She also wore her hair up in a long, luscious ponytail.
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Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
February 2004
The brunette bombshell looked incredibly regal and elegant for the 76th Annual Academy Awards in February 2004. Sandra was radiating in her intricate, white gown. She also wore her hair in pin curls for the ultimate touch.
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Jason Merritt/FilmMagic
October 2005
For the 9th Annual Hollywood Film Festival Awards Gala Ceremony in October 2005, Sandra held her hair back with a plain, black headband. She bumped it up a notch when it came to her makeup, sporting major lashes, flushed red cheeks and pinkish-nude pout.
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Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
January 2006
Sandra took home her first SAG Award at the 12th Annual Screen Actors Guild Award in January 2006. Sandra looked gorgeous in a nude-colored gown as she accepted the award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for her role in Crash.
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Jason Merritt/FilmMagic
June 2006
Although she usually shows off her long, brown hair on the red carpet, Sandra showed off her adorable, caramel bob for the premiere of The Lake House in June 2006. The Virginia native also donned a simple black gown.
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Philip Ramey/Corbis via Getty Images
September 2008
Sandra was spotted out in Beverly Hills in September 2008 looking better than ever. The actress showed off her long, brown hair and spiced up her outfit with sexy lace tights, a black minidress and a matching coat. So cute!
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Steve Granitz/WireImage
January 2009
Sandra looked more regal than ever for the 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards in January 2009. The beloved star donned an eye-catching nude gown designed by Dior.
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Jason Merritt/Getty Images
January 2010
For the following year, Sandra showed up to the 2010 Golden Globes in January wearing a fierce purple gown. She also wore her dark brown hair in an updo and carried a matching clutch. This is the year she won Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama for her work in The Blind Side.
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ason Merritt/Getty Images
March 2010
Sandra looked like royalty as she accepted the Academy Award for Best Actress for role in The Blind Side. For the big moment, she sported a stunning off-white gown featuring matching embellishments.
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Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
January 2011
The philanthropist switched up her look for the 2011 Golden Globes. Rather than tying her hair up, Sandra debuted long, fringy bangs while arriving on the red carpet of the prestigious award show. She looked amazing in her bedazzled, lace gown.
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Ray Tamarra/Getty Images
January 2011
Hey, mama! Sandra debuted her adopted son, Louis, in January 2011! After taking a brief respite from Hollywood following a tough divorce with ex-husband Jesse James, Sandra revealed that she was now a mom.
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Rob Kim/FilmMagic
December 2011
For the premiere of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close in December 2011, Sandra’s look was simple, sexy and effortless. The actress wore a sharp, black suit while showing off her long brown locks. Gorgeous!
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Steve Granitz/WireImage
February 2012
The attention was on Sandra’s gown as she arrived for the Oscars in February 2012. The brunette beauty wore a ravishing black-and-white gown featuring a long train and gold embellishments.
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Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic
January 2014
Sandra was feeling sassy for the 66th annual Directors Guild of America Awards in January 2014! Instead of highlighting her lips with a pinkish-nude gloss, Sandra opted for dark, red lips — and she pulled it off.
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Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic
June 2015
Holy hotness! Sandra came dressed to impress at the Women In Film 2015 Crystal and Lucy Awards in June 2015. The TV producer may have worn a dazzling navy blue ensemble, but all eyes were on her gorgeous, brown curls that fell perfectly around her face.
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Getty Images
September 2015
Sandra looked super sexy for the premiere of Our Brand is Crisis at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2015. She donned a revealing, lattice-patterned dress with nude heels. Sandra also showed off her iconic bangs and tied her edgy look together with dark red lips.
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MEGA
December 2015
Sandra became a proud mother of two after she adopted her daughter, Laila Bullock, in 2015. Following Laila’s adoption, she gushed about being a mom to her two beautiful children.
“When I look at Laila, there’s no doubt in my mind that she was supposed to be here,” Bullock said to People at the time. “I can tell you absolutely, the exact right children came to me at the exact right time.”
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Getty Images
June 2018
Sandra wore of of the most gorgeous dresses to the Oceans 8 premiere in June 2018. The loving mama donned a gold-sequined gown while her handsome partner, Bryan, looked sharp in a blue suit.
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Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Netflix
November 2018
Sandra showed off her brown, caramel locks at a screening of Bird Box in November 2018. She also complimented her incredible figure while wearing a silky, black dress that featured a gold-and-orange stripe down the middle.
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Nathan Congleton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
December 2018
Sandra continued to embrace her short hair as she stopped by the Today show in December 2018. Gorgeous!
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Getty Images
June 2019
The actress wore a fuschia-sequined jumpsuit to the 2019 MTV Movie & TV Awards. After Bird Box won the award for Most Frightened Performance at the awards show, she gave a powerful speech about her career and her sweet kids.
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January 2020
The loving mom was glowing in a mustard-colored gown for the 77th Annual Golden Globe Awards in January 2020.
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Facebook/Red Talk Table
May 2020
Sandra gave fans a rare glimpse inside her life as a mom when her daughter, Laila, joined her for an appearance on Red Table Talk. The Two Weeks Notice actress looked beautiful in a striped T-shirt and sported her hair in a messy up-do as she virtually tuned in from her kitchen.
“I have someone here who wants to say something to April, can she come say something?” Sandra said as she chatted with the hosts. Laila then jumped onto her mom’s lap and greeted, “Hi ladies.” Aww!
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November 2021
Sandra rocked the red carpet in a gold jumpsuit and black blazer for the premiere of The Unforgiveable. The Heat star accessorized with nude pumps and a matching gold clutch. She wore her hair in effortless waves and went with smokey eye makeup at the star-studded Los Angeles event. Sandra stars opposite Jon Bernthal in the Netflix film about an ex-con navigating her life as a free woman after 20 years behind bars.
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Gary Mitchell/Shutterstock
March 2022
Sandra turned heads in a Carolina Herrera pantsuit at the London premiere of The Lost City, in which she stars alongside Channing Tatum and Daniel Radcliffe. Her red carpet style has only gotten more iconic over the years! The mom of two also stole the show at the Los Angeles premiere wearing an unforgettable Elie Saab ballgown just a few weeks prior.
