Benjamin Bratt Shares How Sandra Bullock Was on Miss Congeniality Set

Benjamin Bratt thinks his Miss Congeniality costar is deserving of the title.

The actor, who appeared with Sandra Bullock in a film from 2000, says she’s one of the kindest people he’s ever collaborated with.

At the Los Angeles premiere of his new film, Balls Up, on April 14th, Benjamin told TopMob News’ Will Marfuggi that he fondly remembers Sandy both producing and starring in the movie. He described her as brave and always up for a challenge.

Sandra’s guidance encouraged him and his fellow actors – including Michael Caine, Candice Bergen, William Shatner, and Heather Burns – to be bold and try new things.

The 62-year-old actor, whose new film Balls Up starring Mark Wahlberg and Paul Walter Hauser is now streaming on Prime Video, explained that working with supportive colleagues creates a comfortable environment. This allows performers to take risks and fully commit to their roles without fear of failure.

The gamble paid off, leading to the 2005 sequel, Miss Congeniality 2: Armed & Fabulous, which again starred Sandra Bullock alongside Regina King (though Hector Elizondo didn’t return). Even 25 years later, fans still love the original film and its characters, especially Sandra Bullock as the FBI agent who goes undercover as a beauty pageant contestant, Gracie Hart.

Benjamin explained on Good Morning America in May that the show’s lasting success is largely due to Sandy and her comedic performance. While he acknowledged the show’s strong writing and direction, he emphasized that Sandy isn’t afraid to be goofy and make people laugh.

The actor, who also appeared on Law & Order, mentioned that it’s enjoyable to connect with Sandra’s character.

You know, working on set, I’ve always admired those who truly lead by example. Recently, I saw Sandra Bullock, who just joined Instagram by the way, do exactly that. She doesn’t just tell people what to do, she shows them, and it really lifted everyone’s spirits. She truly leads from the top, and it was inspiring to witness.

Benjamin suggested that starting your workday with a positive and enjoyable attitude will likely lead to good results.

Read on for some behind-the-scenes secrets from the set of Miss Congeniality.

1. A New Director to the Rescue

Donald Petrie took over as director very late in the process, just seven weeks before filming began. Sandra Bullock and Michael Caine were already set to star, and that was enough to convince him to accept the job. “I don’t really know why the previous director left,” Petrie told TopMob News. “But Sandra Bullock was the biggest draw for me.”

2. When in Doubt, Pitch Lethal Weapon Starring Sandra Bullock

The former director envisioned the film as a parody of beauty pageants. However, Donald pitched a different idea to studio executives at Castle Rock and to Sandra Bullock: an action comedy similar to Lethal Weapon, with Sandra playing a strong, capable lead character in the style of Mel Gibson. Donald believed that treating a pageant with complete sincerity was inherently humorous, but attempting to make fun of something already considered a joke wouldn’t work.

3. Ellen DeGeneres Was the Original Miss Congeniality?

In a 2014 interview with Parade magazine, Ellen DeGeneres explained that the movie Miss Congeniality was inspired by footage of her practicing to host the Emmys. She revealed that the writer saw her rehearsing in heels and a dress and decided to base the film on her experience.

Is there any validity to that claim? The director stated he’s a big Ellen fan, but claimed he didn’t know about this background story, jokingly suggesting, “That’s something you’d have to ask Sandy.”

4. There’s Something About Benjamin Bratt

As a bit of a Hollywood insider, I remember when casting for Gracie’s love interest, Eric Matthews, was a big deal! Everyone was buzzing about Matt Dillon – he was huge after ‘There’s Something About Mary.’ He was seriously considered for the part, but ultimately, Benjamin Bratt got the role. It really came down to chemistry, and Sandra Bullock and Benjamin had already worked together on ‘Demolition Man’ back in ’93, so they had a natural comfort level that made him the perfect fit.

You know, Donald and I both really liked Matt when we first met him, but he was hoping for a bigger part in the film. It was a tricky situation, honestly. We needed someone who could convincingly play an FBI agent, but also be comfortable playing second fiddle to Sandra. It’s just that most big-name actors naturally want to be the lead, you understand?

5. Hair Today, Blonde Tomorrow

I was so thrilled when Heather Burns got the part of Miss Rhode Island! She really became someone Gracie could lean on throughout the movie. It’s funny, she originally had dark brown hair at the audition, but Donald felt it was important to visually separate her from Sandra, so they asked her to go blonde. He said he didn’t want anyone looking too much like Sandy on set, and I think it was a smart choice – it really helped define her character!

6. Sandra’s Bra Gag Pays Off

The director fondly remembers a scene where Sandra playfully hides donuts in her bra while Michael Caine and Benjamin Bratt are arguing. It happens in the background, and the audience doesn’t realize what she’s doing until Gracie is caught stealing the donuts a moment later. He says viewers completely miss it.

7. And the Award for Most Likely to Become a Real Housewife Goes To …

LeeAnne Locken had a very small part as Miss Nebraska, and didn’t appear on screen much. Donald was surprised to find out she later became a cast member on The Real Housewives of Dallas. He admitted he didn’t remember much about knowing her, saying, “I didn’t know that!”

8. 50 Is a Big Number

Donald acknowledged they didn’t use enough actresses to represent all 50 states, only about 40. He joked that in a wide shot, no one would notice the shortfall, saying, ‘Who’s going to count and realize there aren’t enough women up there?’

9. A Gilmore Girls Star Ended Up on the Cutting Room Floor

Early test audiences saw a scene where Gracie was late to her father’s wedding. Her father was played by Edward Herrmann, who many people remember as Richard Gilmore from Gilmore Girls. The director, Donald, described Herrmann as a close friend, but the scene ultimately didn’t make it into the final cut of the movie. He remembered it being a very funny moment, and it was actually included in the trailer, even though it wasn’t in the film itself. He explained that the movie was simply too long and they had to cut some content.

10. Craft Service Wasn’t Much Fun

Just weeks before filming began, Donald spoke with each of the pageant contestants, including Sandra, about what to expect from the movie’s storyline. He explained to TopMob News, “I told them we’d be starting in about three weeks, and while I wouldn’t be appearing in a swimsuit, they might be.” Apparently, the contestants were a bit surprised! As a result, the on-set snack table focused on healthy options rather than indulgent treats.

11. Sandra Has a New Fallback Career?

During the movie’s makeover scene, you can hear Los Lobos’ version of “Mustang Sally,” and surprisingly, Sandra Bullock actually played the tambourine on the track! According to Donald, the atmosphere on set was very collaborative – everyone was encouraged to contribute musically. He even played a shaker himself, emphasizing that Sandra was involved in every single detail of the film’s production.

12. If You’re Fighting With Sandra, Be Sure to Wear a Cup

During filming, there was an accidental injury when Sandra hit Donald in a sensitive area while practicing a wrestling scene with Eric. Donald explained that Sandra and Eric were rolling around, and she unintentionally struck him. He jokingly recalled her hitting him ‘right in the cojones,’ forcing them to pause the scene.

13. Sandra Did All of Her Own Stunts

The director playfully mentioned that Sandra and Benjamin are still jokingly upset with him for making them perform their own stunts. He shared that Benjamin has been teasing him about ongoing back pain, and both actors ended up with bruises and sore muscles after filming the wrestling scene.

14. The Opening Scene Wasn’t in the Script

I’ve been following Marc Lawrence’s work for ages, and I knew he’d poured years into this project – countless drafts, really. I remember hearing about how, during a casual conversation with the director, Marc mentioned an early version of the script actually started with the scene we see at the beginning of the movie – young Gracie taking on a bully, and then, shockingly, continuing to beat him even after he was down. The director immediately knew that was gold and needed to be the very first thing we saw – it absolutely had to be in the final shooting script!

15. The Snort Was Rooted in Reality

Gracie developed a habit of snorting when she laughed, which wasn’t planned. Donald remembered being at a dinner with her when she snorted after he said something funny, and he immediately told her to keep doing it – he loved it!

16. How Do You Make Sandra Bullock Look Like She’s Not a Beauty Queen?

One of the biggest challenges in making the film believable was finding a way to make Sandra Bullock appear less glamorous in the first part of the story. They accomplished this through her acting and some subtle adjustments with makeup, hair, and lighting. Someone joked that it only took 30 minutes to make her look less attractive, but two and a half hours to make her look beautiful. However, others felt she didn’t even need makeup – simply brushing her hair was enough to make her look stunning.

17. Sandra Wanted Food in Her Teeth

One particularly striking scene shows Michael Caine’s character treating Gracie to a steak dinner. During the meal, the British pageant coach becomes visibly frustrated, complaining about seeing a “partially chewed piece of meat moving around in your mouth.”

Donald recalled the actress requesting a piece of steak be wedged between her teeth, which she then wanted to suck on. He specifically remembered them using dental floss – normally used for cleaning teeth – to actually insert the steak between her teeth.

One of the most talked-about parts of the movie trailer was a playful moment where Gracie sings to Eric, “You think I’m gorgeous, you want to date me.” Surprisingly, this wasn’t in the script! According to Donald, it was all improvised by Sandra.

19. Sandra’s Kiss That Wasn’t Meant to Be

During the playful scene where Gracie sings “You want to kiss me,” the plan was for her and Eric to actually kiss. The director shot both a kissing version and another where Eric pretends to kiss her but bites a candy bar instead. Ultimately, the candy bar version was used in the movie. Donald explained he felt a kiss at that point in the film would have come too soon.

20. The Classic “Perfect Date” Line Has Special Significance

Each year on April 25th, people share memes referencing a funny line from the movie where Miss Rhode Island misunderstands ‘the perfect date’ as a calendar day instead of a romantic plan. Interestingly, the line was originally written by the screenwriter, Marc Lawrence, but Donald tweaked it to match his wife’s birthday.

The director explained he had jokingly wondered if the date was his wife’s birthday – April 25th – and is pleased that every year on that day, lots of funny memes appear online.

21. Getting the Last Laugh

Donald explained that he purposely adds extra footage to rough cuts of his movies. This allows him to see how audiences react and make changes before the final version. Because of this, he doesn’t invite critics to these early screenings. However, he recalled that film blogger Harry Knowles once managed to sneak into a test screening and wrote an extremely harsh review, even blaming Donald for damaging Sandy Bullock’s career.

Despite some initial negative reactions, the studio wasn’t worried, and the film ultimately became a major success, earning $212 million worldwide on a $45 million budget. As Donald put it, he was just happy the movie did so well and became a beloved comedy, allowing him to playfully dismiss the harsh review with a bit of satisfaction.

22. The 20-Year Difference

Donald noted that some parts of the movie, like colleagues making disrespectful comments about Gracie and objectifying her appearance, likely wouldn’t be included if it were made now. He explained that attitudes have changed significantly since the film was released 20 years ago, especially with the rise of the #MeToo movement and increased awareness of gender inequality. While much of the movie would likely remain the same, certain scenes would need to be adjusted to reflect modern sensitivities.

A particularly progressive moment in the film occurs near the end when a contestant reveals she’s gay and expresses her feelings for her girlfriend. Director Donald felt this scene served a “higher purpose” and praised writer Marc Lawrence and Sandy for including it in the script. He said he was thrilled they added it.

23. A Different Director Helmed the Sequel

Donald didn’t direct the 2005 sequel to Miss Congeniality, Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous, and it wasn’t as popular as the first movie. He explained that he generally doesn’t like directing sequels, saying there’s not much benefit for him as the director. He made a similar choice with the movie Grumpy Old Men, directing the original 1993 hit but skipping the 1995 sequel, Grumpier Old Men.

Donald said he doubted a remake of Miss Congeniality would work, explaining that it wouldn’t feel right without Sandra Bullock.

24. The Movie Gets Chandler’s Stamp of Approval

Donald believed his film gained widespread recognition when Matthew Perry’s character, Chandler, mentioned loving it on the TV show Friends in 2003. The director explained, “I realized we’d become part of pop culture because Friends referenced it in an episode.”

25. The Rom-Com Market Isn’t What It Was in 2000

Donald pointed out that it’s significantly harder now to get a romantic comedy produced, and even harder to get it shown in theaters, compared to when movies like Miss Congeniality were successful. He explained that for several years, before Netflix started investing in the genre, romantic comedies almost disappeared – very few were being made.

While romantic comedies are seeing a slight comeback, he doesn’t believe they’ll be major box office draws again anytime soon. Donald explained that streaming services were already challenging theaters, but the pandemic has made them even more dominant.

2026-04-16 00:28

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