Photo: Rob Kim/GettyRosie Perezhas a sense of humor about her failedThe Matrixaudition.While speaking withVarietyfor one of the magazine’sPower of Women features, Perez, 58, recalled her audition for a lead role in the 1999 film as she spoke about early-career struggles after breakout roles inDo the Right Thing(1989) andWhite Men Can’t Jump(1992).“I was horrible,” Perez recalled of the audition. “As I was walking out, I was like, ‘I know I didn’t get the job. I really sucked,’ and [the directors] the Wachowskis were like, ‘No,’ and the casting director was trying not to laugh.““And then finally I looked at her and I go, ‘I really sucked,’ and she just burst out laughing,” the Oscar nominee added. “We all were laughing. I just gave the Wachowskis a hug and I said, ‘Well, good luck with this.’ “The role Perez auditioned for — Trinity, one of the main characters throughout theMatrixfranchise — ultimately went toCarrie-Anne Moss, who went on to costar withKeanu Reevesthrough all four films.Carrie-Anne Moss and Keanu Reeves inThe Matrix.Ronald Siemoneit/SygmaNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Perez has mentioned her failedMatrixaudition before. While speaking withBackstage’sIn the Envelopepodcastin 2021, the actress recalled that she “totally blew it.““I just burst out laughing, shook everybody’s hand, laughing and going, ‘I’m so sorry. I’m sorry. Nice to meet you guys,’ " she said at the time, during a larger conversation about how actors can prepare for auditions and roles.As Perez recounted how she got her start toVarietyin the new issue, she also recalled how she first met Spike Lee and almost missed her opportunity for her first film role inDo the Right Thing.Celeste Sloman for Variety"I didn’t understand who he was. And I didn’t care,” she told the outlet as she recalled Lee, now 66, approaching her and her friends at a club with his business card as he embarked on casting for his 1989 Brooklyn-based movie. “I threw the card away.““My girlfriend Marian went back and got it. She always joked, ‘You owe your entire career to me,’ " Perez added. “You know, I did audition forDo the Right Thing. People think that Spike just discovered me and gave me the role. No, he made me work for it.”
Photo: Rob Kim/Getty
Rosie Perezhas a sense of humor about her failedThe Matrixaudition.While speaking withVarietyfor one of the magazine’sPower of Women features, Perez, 58, recalled her audition for a lead role in the 1999 film as she spoke about early-career struggles after breakout roles inDo the Right Thing(1989) andWhite Men Can’t Jump(1992).“I was horrible,” Perez recalled of the audition. “As I was walking out, I was like, ‘I know I didn’t get the job. I really sucked,’ and [the directors] the Wachowskis were like, ‘No,’ and the casting director was trying not to laugh.““And then finally I looked at her and I go, ‘I really sucked,’ and she just burst out laughing,” the Oscar nominee added. “We all were laughing. I just gave the Wachowskis a hug and I said, ‘Well, good luck with this.’ “The role Perez auditioned for — Trinity, one of the main characters throughout theMatrixfranchise — ultimately went toCarrie-Anne Moss, who went on to costar withKeanu Reevesthrough all four films.Carrie-Anne Moss and Keanu Reeves inThe Matrix.Ronald Siemoneit/SygmaNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Perez has mentioned her failedMatrixaudition before. While speaking withBackstage’sIn the Envelopepodcastin 2021, the actress recalled that she “totally blew it.““I just burst out laughing, shook everybody’s hand, laughing and going, ‘I’m so sorry. I’m sorry. Nice to meet you guys,’ " she said at the time, during a larger conversation about how actors can prepare for auditions and roles.As Perez recounted how she got her start toVarietyin the new issue, she also recalled how she first met Spike Lee and almost missed her opportunity for her first film role inDo the Right Thing.Celeste Sloman for Variety"I didn’t understand who he was. And I didn’t care,” she told the outlet as she recalled Lee, now 66, approaching her and her friends at a club with his business card as he embarked on casting for his 1989 Brooklyn-based movie. “I threw the card away.““My girlfriend Marian went back and got it. She always joked, ‘You owe your entire career to me,’ " Perez added. “You know, I did audition forDo the Right Thing. People think that Spike just discovered me and gave me the role. No, he made me work for it.”
Rosie Perezhas a sense of humor about her failedThe Matrixaudition.
While speaking withVarietyfor one of the magazine’sPower of Women features, Perez, 58, recalled her audition for a lead role in the 1999 film as she spoke about early-career struggles after breakout roles inDo the Right Thing(1989) andWhite Men Can’t Jump(1992).
“I was horrible,” Perez recalled of the audition. “As I was walking out, I was like, ‘I know I didn’t get the job. I really sucked,’ and [the directors] the Wachowskis were like, ‘No,’ and the casting director was trying not to laugh.”
“And then finally I looked at her and I go, ‘I really sucked,’ and she just burst out laughing,” the Oscar nominee added. “We all were laughing. I just gave the Wachowskis a hug and I said, ‘Well, good luck with this.’ "
The role Perez auditioned for — Trinity, one of the main characters throughout theMatrixfranchise — ultimately went toCarrie-Anne Moss, who went on to costar withKeanu Reevesthrough all four films.
Carrie-Anne Moss and Keanu Reeves inThe Matrix.Ronald Siemoneit/Sygma
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Perez has mentioned her failedMatrixaudition before. While speaking withBackstage’sIn the Envelopepodcastin 2021, the actress recalled that she “totally blew it.”
“I just burst out laughing, shook everybody’s hand, laughing and going, ‘I’m so sorry. I’m sorry. Nice to meet you guys,’ " she said at the time, during a larger conversation about how actors can prepare for auditions and roles.
As Perez recounted how she got her start toVarietyin the new issue, she also recalled how she first met Spike Lee and almost missed her opportunity for her first film role inDo the Right Thing.
Celeste Sloman for Variety
“I didn’t understand who he was. And I didn’t care,” she told the outlet as she recalled Lee, now 66, approaching her and her friends at a club with his business card as he embarked on casting for his 1989 Brooklyn-based movie. “I threw the card away.”
“My girlfriend Marian went back and got it. She always joked, ‘You owe your entire career to me,’ " Perez added. “You know, I did audition forDo the Right Thing. People think that Spike just discovered me and gave me the role. No, he made me work for it.”
source: people.com
