Salma Hayek spoke about auditioning for "The Matrix " during the latest episode of "Red Table Talk ."- Hayek said she was one of the finalists for the role of Trinity until the physical test happened.
- The star said that she "couldn't even run around the room once," and didn't get the part.
Salma Hayek said that she almost landed the role of Trinity in "The Matrix," until it came time for the physical test.
"I'm flexible. I'm agile. But I'm lazy," Hayek said during a virtual appearance on the latest episode of "Red Table Talk" on Facebook Watch, released on Wednesday. "I never really went to the gym."
The 54-year-old actress spoke about the experience as she explained that she and "RTT" host Jada Pinkett Smith met during the audition process for "The Matrix." Hayek said that they were two of the finalists who were edging toward landing the part in the 1999 movie.
The "Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard" star said that in the later stages of the audition process, after screen tests and multiple callbacks, stunt coordinators from Asia were brought in for a physical test. Hayek said that she was asked to run around the room, which she was unable to do.
"I couldn't even run around the room once," she said.
Hayek said that she was impressed when Pinkett Smith came in and nailed the physical test.
"She was so good it was so embarrassing," the "Eternals" actress said. "She was so fit. She was so focused. She was so disciplined. She was so capable, She was so gracious. And I just looked at this woman and I thought to myself, 'That's who I want to be when I grow up.' She was really impressive."
Hayek added: "I didn't get the part. They never called me again after that day."
The role of Trinity, a member of the Nebuchadnezzar who fell in love with Keanu Reeves' hacker named Neo, ultimately went to Carrie-Anne Moss. The actress reprised the role for two sequels and will return for an upcoming fourth "Matrix" movie.
Pinkett Smith didn't get the part, but she joined the franchise in "The Matrix Reloaded" playing the role of Niobe, which was created for her. She'll also be back for the next "Matrix" sequel.