Rosie Perez Recalls Her 'Horrible' Audition for 'The Matrix': 'I Really Sucked'
29.03.2023 - 19:51
/ etonline.com
Rosie Perez earned stardom portraying Tina in. She impressed the masses in, and then earned an Oscar nomination for her role in the 1993 drama . While she rightfully celebrates those accomplishments, the 58-year-old actress also looks back at her failures with a grin.During a conversation with for its «Power of Women» issue, Perez opened up about a «horrible» audition she had that immediately had her laughing, after auditioning for the female lead in, a role that ultimately went to Carrie-Anne Moss.«I was horrible.
As I was walking out, I was like, 'I know I didn't get the job. I really sucked,'» Perez recalls. «And the [ directors Lana and Lilly] Wachowskis were like, 'no,' and the casting director was trying not to laugh.»Perez said she didn't just have a feeling she didn't nail the audition.
She knew.«And then finally I looked at her and I go, 'I really sucked,' and she just burst out laughing,» Perez continues. «We all were laughing. I just gave the Wachowskis a hug and I said, 'Well, good luck with this.'»The rest, as they say, is history.
franchise — comprising of four films — has earned nearly $2 billion at the box office worldwide.Perez, who almost exactly a year ago reunited with Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson at the Oscars for the 30th anniversary since the release of, also recalled meeting Spike Lee for the first time, and having no clue who he was.«And I didn't care. I threw the [business] card away,» she says. «My girlfriend Marian went back and got it.
She always joked, 'You owe your entire career to me.' You know, I did audition for. People think that Spike just discovered me and gave me the role. No, he made me work for it.»The Emmy-nominated actress and star also recalled her early struggles trying to
.