Salma Hayek revealed a physical test came between her and her role that would have meant working alongside Keanu Reeves.
After more than 20 years, it may be difficult to imagine the Mexican Salma Hayek playing Trinity herself in the Matrix saga. But as far-fetched as it may seem, this was about to come to fruition, according to the actress in a recent interview.
Salma spoke with Red Table Talk along with Jada Pinkett Smith and it was there that they said that the two actresses were among the four finalists in the casting to play Trinity in The Matrix. But as we could already see, that character required a demanding physical test and the one who best coped with the challenge was the Canadian actress Carrie-Anne Moss.
Let's remember that this was in the late 1990s when Hayek's career was exploding thanks to her work in "Desperado" and "From Dusk Till Dawn," among others. With her charm and beauty that has made her one of the most attractive Mexican stars in the industry, Salma told the anecdote in which she was very close to being part of the film... until the moment she asked to run.
"We were four finalists, we had overcome a lot of obstacles and tests at different stages. Everything was going well until they brought in the Asian stunt coordinators. It was time for the physical test. I am a flexible and agile person, but I am lazy "I never really went to the gym. Then they said, 'You have to run!' and I said: 'Where?' I couldn't even walk around the room," Salma recalled with great amusement.
And to complete the anecdote, the native of Veracruz added that her friend Jada entered the room in the middle of the test: “Here comes Jada, a slim machine! Oh, Lord! She was so good! She was so embarrassed! She was so fit, focused, and disciplined. I looked at her and thought, 'That's what I want to be when she grows up.' Every time I'm going to get some action, I say, 'No, I better start with my endurance and practice the routines. You have to be like Jada!'"
Although neither of them got the role, Pinkett Smith later received the call to play Niobe, a role with which she will return for the long-awaited Matrix 4 alongside Moss and Keanu Reeves.
