Salma Hayek almost stared as Trinity in The Matrix, but the actress claims she lost the role due to laziness. The Matrix was one of the defining action movies of the 1990s and the influence on the film had ripple effects on the film industry that are still felt today. The film spawned a franchise that included two back-to-back sequels in 2003, The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolution, an anime anthology film titled The Animatrix, and a fourth untitled film will return to theaters and on HBO Max in December 2021.
2021 will not only see the return of The Matrix to theaters but is a hot streak year for Salma Hayek. The actress kicked off the year the Amazon original Bliss, and her latest film The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard opened to number 1 at the box office. She will next be seen joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Ajax in Eternals this November, and shortly will be followed up with Ridley Scott's House of Gucci alongside Adam Driver and Lady Gaga. There was almost a chance Hayek could have been reprising the role of Trinity in the upcoming Matrix 4 had she gotten the part back in 1999.
Related: The Matrix: Everything That Happened Before The First Movie
Hayek herself almost had a role in The Matrix back in 1999. According to Entertainment Weekly, Hayek told Jada Pinkett Smith on her Red Table Talk show about how both actresses were finalists for the role of Trinity in The Matrix. Hayek jokingly recalls that she didn't get the part because of her lack of physical agility. The part eventually went to Carrie-Anne Moss, and Jada Pinkett Smith would go on to star in The Matrix sequels and Hayek cites Pinkett Smith as an inspiration for how she approaches getting prepared for action roles now. Hayek said:
"We were one of the four finalists for The Matrix. We'd jumped through many hurdles, screen testing, and many auditions. They brought these stunt coordinators from Asia. It was the physical test. I'm flexible and agile, but I'm lazy. I never really went to the gym, they said, 'You have to run!' I go, 'To where?' I couldn't even go around the room once. Here comes Jada, a mean, lean, sexy machine! Oh my God! She was so good! It was so embarrassing! She was so fit, she was so focused, she was so disciplined. She was so capable. She was so gracious. And I just looked at this woman and I thought to myself, 'That's who I want to be when I grow up...Every time I'm going to do action, I say, no, I better start getting some stamina and practice the routines, you've got to be like Jada!"
Hayek wasn't entirely a stranger to action films at the time, for she had already starred in Desperado in 1995. Interestingly enough, Hayek would go on to star in another action film, Wild Wild West the same year that The Matrix came out. Her co-star, Will Smith, famously turned down the role of Neo to star in Wild Wild West. While The Matrix went on to great critical and commercial success, Wild Wild West bombed at the box office and with critics. Wild Wild West now has the distinction of featuring two actors who almost starred in The Matrix.
Hayek may have lost the role of Trinity in The Matrix in 1999, but she has had an interesting career that has allowed her to work with a variety of different directors like Julie Taymour, Kevin Smith, and Robert Rodriguez. She has also been given the chance to headline major action films like The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard and Eternals in her 50's, something her male peers are often given but sadly many actresses are not afforded, like how Carrie-Anne Moss was offered grandmother roles once she turned 40. Hayek may not have needed The Matrix, but it will always be interesting what could have been for fans of the actress and the film.
Source: Entertainment Weekly
Salma Hayek Tells Story Of Her Pet Owl Vomiting On Harry Styles' Head
Salma Hayek, star of The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, revealed that her pet owl once vomited on pop star Harry Styles’ head. Hayek first appeared as Sonia, the wife of hitman Darius Kincaid (Samuel L. Jackson), in 2017’s The Hitman's Bodyguard. After being a surprise hit at the box office, the buddy comedy will be followed up by a sequel releasing in theaters June 16. The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard will see Hayek step into the spotlight after appearing in the first film for only a few minutes.
After starring alongside Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson in the action sequel, Hayek is poised to have a huge year. The Phase 4 Marvel film Eternals will see Hayek star as Ajak, the leader of the ancient superhero team. After Eternals debuts on November 5, it won’t be long until Hayek is seen in Ridley Scott's House of Gucci alongside Adam Driver and Lady Gaga on November 24. While making the press rounds for The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, Hayek has been the subject of various anecdotes, such as her slapping Reynolds shockingly hard, and now she has an even more bizarre story to share.
Related: Marvel's Eternals Movie Cast & Character Guide
Appearing on The Ellen Show to promote The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard, Hayek recalled a time in which her pet owl, Kering, landed and vomited on Styles’ head. Though she was hesitant to name the “very important celebrity” whose head was the victim of this unfortunate incident, Hayek revealed towards the end of the interview that it was in fact Styles, the former One Direction member turned Dunkirk actor and solo singer. Watch Hayek recount the incident below beginning at the 6:50 mark:
With The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard releasing June 16, Hayek is just about finished making press rounds for the film. However, it won’t be long until Marvel begins the promotional campaign for Eternals, which Hayek will likely be a huge part of considering her prominent role in the film as Eternal Ajak. Hopefully, Hayek will have more interesting anecdotes to share then that could include her high-profile co-stars like Angelina Jolie and Lady Gaga.
Hayek is certainly no stranger to action films after rising to prominence with roles in Robert Rodriguez’s Desperado and From Dusk till Dawn. Her breakthrough role then came in 2002 with Frida, for which she was nominated for an Oscar. While she hasn’t starred in many action flicks since then, she will make her highly-anticipated return to the genre with her prominent role in The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard followed by her superhero debut in Eternals.
Source: TheEllenShow
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