Quinton Aaron had to put in a lot of tough training, practice, and more to convince watchers that he was Michael Oher. So, what exactly did this “more” include?
The young actor had to lose weight for the role. All in all, he lost 100 pounds. Aaron was willing to pay this small price for the big opportunity. He even said he would have “done anything” to prove his ability to play the part. So, he lost major weight in just over three months. That takes a lot of hard work and motivation.
Quinton Aaron
Getting accepted to the role of Michael Oher brought the starry-eyed Quinton Aaron into a life he never expected to become a part of. Not only was he accepting a major role in an Oscar-nominated film, but he was unknowingly accepting a life of glamour that comes with such an honor.
Before he took on the role, Quinton Aaron had never stepped foot on an Airplane in his life. He finally experienced that when he was called to audition a second time for the role. Also a first for him, visiting the dazzling city of Los Angeles.
Having Support
Having supportive parents can be the difference between success and failure. Quinton Aaron was made privy to this, as he understood that if not for his mother, he may not have tried out for the role as Michael Oher in the first place.
Aaron’s mother saw a notice for the role and automatically thought about her own son. After reading the role’s description and seeing that they were looking for somebody of Aaron’s size, she knew that the role was made for Aaron. So, she sent in her son’s information on his behalf, hopeful to receive good news. Unfortunately, she did not survive to see that her son received the part of Michael.
Sean Tuohy
You may have recognized the actor who played Sean Tuohy in the film… especially if you are a fan of country music. That’s because the man who portrayed Tuohy was none other than one of the most recognized country music stars, Tim McGraw. McGraw has released 15 studio albums, 10 of which have made it to number one on the Top Country Albums charts. Who would think that McGraw could also deliver a stellar acting performance?
Well, McGraw wasn’t the only star to stem from the music world. He was joined by Lily Collins, whose last name probably rings a bell to you. Yes, she is Phil Collins’s daughter. And yes, we're talking about the drummer and singer of the rock band Genesis. He has released 8 studio albums which have sold 150 copies worldwide.
Sandra Bullock
When Sandra Bullock appeared in The Blind Side, she already had an impressive resume. She starred in Speed opposite Keanu Reeves. She also starred in another pretty successful commercial film the same year The Blind Side hit theaters: a romantic comedy called The Proposal.
But, The Blind Side did a lot to redefine Bullock’s career. She not only received an overwhelming amount of critical acclaim, but she also won some major awards for her performance. To top off her successes, she celebrated a record being broken. For the first time ever, a female actress was the only name to appear legible above the film’s title.