Sandra Bullock admits she still panics on red carpets after 30 years in Hollywood

Sandra Bullock may have been familiar with premieres for more than three decades, but the red carpet has still not become second nature. In an interview with Interview Magazine published on Tuesday, September 8, the American actress told her friend Jennifer Aniston that she remains seized by nervousness whenever she has to stop in front of photographers.

The 62-year-old star describes a ritual that still puts her under pressure: the flashes, the poses, and the fear of showing the wrong expression at the wrong moment. She even jokes about her admiration for Zendaya, whose ease and elegance in front of the cameras she envies.

The contrast is as amusing as it is surprising. Sandra Bullock is one of the most familiar faces in Hollywood, having moved from romantic comedies to action films and dramatic roles. Yet, she insists that she is much more comfortable in an interview than in the highly formalized exercise of posing on the red carpet.

This franchise marks her return to cinema after a four-year hiatus. The actress had not taken on a film role since The Lost City, released in 2022. She now reunites with Nicole Kidman in Practical Magic 2, the sequel to the 1998 film that has become a cult classic over the years despite a challenging initial critical reception.

In her conversation with Jennifer Aniston, Sandra Bullock also reflects on this first adventure. The critics at the time had deeply unsettled her, to the point of making her feel she had made a poor choice. The film’s late success with several generations of viewers ultimately changed her perspective on this story.

Her return to the spotlight does not mean, however, that she has changed her temperament. The actress explains that she has always been very protective of her private life, long before fame. She says she enjoys telling stories and reuniting with her colleagues, while maintaining a clear boundary between the public stage and her personal life.

Directed by Susanne Bier, Practical Magic 2 is released this Wednesday, September 9, in French cinemas, four years after Sandra Bullock’s last appearance on the big screen. The film also brings together Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing, who reprise their roles from the original saga, alongside Joey King and Maisie Williams.