Why Sandra Bullock will always be America's sweetheart

Sandra Bullock was honoured as the Favorite Movie Actress at the People's Choice Awards on Wednesday (Jan 7).

It is her sixth time winning the same award even though she has not been on the big screen since 2013's Gravity. She lent her voice to the Minions animated feature in 2015.

It all goes to show that she is definitely one of the most beloved actresses working in Hollywood today.

She's extremely versatile

Bullock may have built her career as a funny girl, but let's not forget her roots in action. Remember Demolition Man and Speed? 

She's also established herself as a dramatic actress, taking home Best Actress Oscars for her work in The Blind Side (2010). She was also riveting in the one-man show Gravity.

She is best in dramedies and her latest, Our Brand Is Crisis, is a great showcase of her versatility.

Sandra Bullock with Billy Bob Thornon in Our Brand Is Crisis. PHOTO: WARNER BROS.

Bullock plays 'Calamity' Jane Bodine, a retired political consultant hired to help a controversial Bolivian Presidential candidate win the elections. 

The satirical comedy, which opens here Jan 14 and also stars Billy Bob Thornton and Anthony Mackie, is right up Bullock's alley.

She knows what she wants

Bullock's role in Our Brand Is Crisis was originally written for a man, and her Gravity co-star George Clooney was once attached to star in it.

But the Oscar winner loved the script, made a call to good pal Clooney and told him she wanted the role and had him reshaped it for a woman to play.

She speaks her mind

Bullock has always been outspoken about sexism in Hollywood and her recent acceptance speech at the People's Choice Awards saw her pay homage to the other women in her category - the working mothers.

“I was trying to figure out why I love what I do so much, and it wasn’t so much the end result," she said.

"It’s the people I meet, and the memories I make, and once again, you, the people, have allowed me to be in great company tonight with these women I share this category with. ... They all break molds, push that glass ceiling up, and they’re all mamas. We’re all working mamas who love what we do.”

 

 

She's a devoted mother

After adopting her first child Louis, now five, in 2010, Bullock made it a point to spend as much time as possible with him, opting to put her career on the back burner. That way, she also gets to be more selective of the movies offered to her.

The single mother adopted her second child in December last year, a three-and-a-half year old daughter, Laila.

She's gorgeous inside and out

Ladies, take notes on how Bullock has aged ever so gracefully.

The 51-year-old's definition of beauty? To be a good person.

"Real beauty is quiet," Bullock said upon being named People's 2015 World's Most Beautiful Woman.

"Especially in this town, it's just so hard not to say, 'Oh, I need to look like that.'

"No, be a good person, be a good mom, do a good job with the lunch, let someone cut in front of you who looks like they're in a bigger hurry. The people I find most beautiful are the ones who aren't trying."