Born in Washington, D.C., on July 26, 1964, Bullock was the elder daughter of a vocal coach dad and an opera singer mom. Touring through Europe with her mother, Bullock was given her first taste of show business while still a child. Back in the States, she attended high school in Virginia and was a popular cheerleader. Sandra not only developed a deep appreciation for opera, and also learned to speak fluent German.

After high school graduation, she continued her education, at East Carolina University, where she majored in Drama. During this time, she helped support herself by entering and winning dance contests, a passion that has stayed with her. Sandra dances at every possible opportunity, and it has been said that if she ever gave up acting, she could easily take up dance as a second professional career.

Sandra got her start with a number of stage productions. It was for one of these productions, the off-Broadway No Time Flat, that Bullock received a rave review for her portrayal of a Southern belle, the strength of which was enough to land her an agent. Television work followed, with a small role in the 1989 Bionic Showdown: The Six-Million-Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman and, after her migration to Los Angeles.

Sandra moved to Los Angeles where she got the role of a spunky cop in the Sylvester Stallone sci-fi action film, "Demolition Man". This was a role that drew the attention of director Jan De Bont, who cast her in the hit movie "Speed", practically making her an overnight success.

The two mega hits, "The Net" and "While You Were Sleeping" followed, sending Sandra on a skyrocket ride to A-list status and a hefty increase in her paycheck. The success of these films made it possible for her to start her own cinema production company, Fortis Films.