Rosie Perez bombed her Matrix audition in a very wholesome way
"I really sucked"
Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Want to add more newsletters?
Every Friday
GamesRadar+
Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.
Every Thursday
GTA 6 O'clock
Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.
Every Friday
Knowledge
From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.
Every Thursday
The Setup
Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.
Every Wednesday
Switch 2 Spotlight
Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.
Every Saturday
The Watchlist
Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.
Once a month
SFX
Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!
Rosie Perez had the whole room laughing when she bombed her audition for The Matrix.
"I was horrible. As I was walking out, I was like, 'I know I didn't get the job. I really sucked,' and the Wachowskis were like, 'No,' and the casting director was trying not to laugh," Perez told Variety of her audition to play Trinity.
"And then finally I looked at her and I go, 'I really sucked,' and she just burst out laughing. We all were laughing. I just gave the Wachowskis a hug and I said, 'Well, good luck with this.'"
Perez isn't the only actor who blew their chance at Trinity: Salma Hayek told Jada Pinkett Smith (who plays Niobe in the series) that she wasn't physically fit enough for the role (H/T Entertainment Weekly). "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." The audition required acrobatic stunts as well as a three-hour physical fitness test.
The role would ultimately go to Carrie-Anne Moss, who has played the badass computer programmer and hacker for the duration of the franchise. The first film, which hit theaters in 1999, earned over $460 million at the global box office.
Perez currently stars on The Flight Attendant, earning a Primetime Emmy nomination for the role, and Your Honor. She portrayed former detective Renee Montoya in Birds of Prey.
For more, check out our list of the greatest movies of the last decade.
Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox

Lauren Milici is a Senior Entertainment Writer for GamesRadar+ based in New York City. She previously reported on breaking news for The Independent's Indy100 and created TV and film listicles for Ranker. Her work has been published in Fandom, Nerdist, Paste Magazine, Vulture, PopSugar, Fangoria, and more.


