Salma Hayek Was A Finalist For ‘The Matrix,’ But Wasn’t Down For The Whole “Running” Thing
The MatrixturnedKeanu Reevesinto an iconic action star, but another actress was almost slow-motion kicking alongside him instead ofCarrie-Anne Moss.
While making the publicity rounds for the action comedy sequelThe Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard,Salma Hayekrevealed that she was one of four finalists in consideration for the role of Trinity inThe Matrix. So why didn’t she get the part? TheDesperadostar admitted that she simply couldn’t handle the action and was too lazy to land the part.
During an interview onRed Table Talk at Facebook(viaYahoo), Salma Hayek talked about how she was one of the final four actresses up for the role of Trinity inThe Matrix. This was at a time when Hayek’s star had risen rather quickly thanks toDesperado,From Dusk Til Dawn, andFools Rush In, so Warner Bros. Pictures was sweet on the star.
Unfortunately, she wasn’t cut out for the physical requirements of the part. Hayek explained:
“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.”
Another Contender Still Ended Up in The Matrix
Joining Hayek in the interview wasJada Pinkett-Smith, who was also in the running for the role of Trinity at the time. And theNutty Professoractress was much more game for the action than Hayek, who recalled:
“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.'”
Though Pinkett-Smith didn’t get the role of Trinity, she would go on to land the role of Niobe in the sequelsThe Matrix ReloadedandThe Matrix Revolutions. Coincidentally enough, the same year thatThe Matrixcame out, Hayek would star alongside Will Smith inWild Wild West, a movie that didn’t require much physical stress, but certainly took a mental toll on those who had to sit through it. Plus, now she’s doing plenty of action inThe Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, in theaters now.
The Matrixfranchise returns with a fourth installment this winter onDecember 16, 2021.
