Sandra Bullock is Hollywood’s sweetheart. Even being married to rough and tough Monster Garage star Jesse James hasn’t changed this brunette beauty’s image. It might not be a surprise to find out she was a cheerleader in high school as well. But, first, let’s start at the beginning.

Sandra Bullock was born in Arlington, Virginia, but lived in Nuremberg, Germany, until she was 12 years old. During her time in Germany, she traveled with her opera singer mother (taking small parts in her mother’s opera productions), sang in the opera’s children’s choir at the Staatstheater Nurnberg, and studied ballet and vocal arts.

As a teen, Sandra attended Washington and Lee High School where she was a cheerleader and an active participant in her school’s theater productions. She then attended East Carolina University but left to pursue an acting career (she’s since earned her bachelor’s degree).

Sandra’s next move was to Manhattan for acting auditions and she is known to have held a variety of jobs (including bartender and coat checker). She also attended Neighborhood Playhouse for acting classes, appearing in several student films. Landing an off-Broadway play, No Time Flat, led director Alan J. Levi to offer her a part in the made-for-TV movie Bionic Showdown: The Six Million Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman. Sandra chose to stay in Los Angeles once the movie was wrapped.

Sandra appeared in independent films and a TV series called Working Girl, leading to her big screen debut with the movie Love Potion No. 9. Although she held many roles, her break-through performance came in the movie Speed, leading to many successful films such as While You Were Sleeping, Miss Congeniality, and Crash.

Sandra isn’t only an actress. She owns her own production company called Fortis Films. She’s the executive producer of the sitcom The George Lopez Show, and continues to gain praise anywhere you look in Hollywood.

What’s your favorite Sandra Bullock film?

[Photo: Angela George]