Sandra Bullock still has plenty of love for her late The Proposal co-star Betty White—and apparently, not even death can stop White from stealing a scene.
Bullock, 62, opened up about her longtime memories of the legendary actress during a Sept. 3 appearance on Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce. While chatting about her career and upcoming movie Practical Magic 2, Bullock took part in a game where Kelce, 34, asked her to rank some of her most memorable movie fashion moments.
Naturally, The Proposal made the cut.
Betty White Was Getting Handsy On Set
When Kelce showed Bullock a photo of the wedding dress her character, Margaret Tate, wore in The Proposal, the actress immediately brought up White.
“Well, it’s Betty’s hands on my boobs,” Bullock joked.
© John ShearerIn the 2009 romantic comedy, Margaret is a high-powered New York publishing executive who finds herself facing deportation to Canada. To keep her life in the U.S., she convinces her assistant, Andrew Paxton, played by Ryan Reynolds, to pretend they’re engaged.
Things get even more chaotic when Andrew takes Margaret home to meet his family, including his grandmother Annie, played by White.
At one point, Annie lets Margaret borrow her old wedding dress—and proceeds to feel her up through it while joking that she’s searching for an “Easter egg.”
“It still is,” Bullock said when Kelce brought up the memorable moment. “Some things never change, but only Betty gets to search.”
Bullock Says White Is “Still Floating Around”
Kelce then asked Bullock whether White was really “everything,” and Bullock didn’t hesitate with her answer.
“Betty White is everything,” she said. “I say ‘is everything’ ’cause I know she’s still floating around.”
White died on Dec. 31, 2021, just weeks before what would have been her 100th birthday. But for Bullock, the beloved actress clearly remains very much present in her memories.
The actress also looked back on one particularly chilly day she spent filming with White and Reynolds.
She Couldn’t Believe Betty Wasn’t Cold
Bullock recalled filming on a small boat with White and Reynolds when the weather was absolutely freezing.
“It was Ryan, Betty, I think just me. I don’t think anyone else is on it. And it was freezing,” she explained.
Production offered Bullock a jacket, which she gladly accepted while wearing heels and trying to survive the cold. Reynolds also bundled up in a heavy coat.
But when Bullock sat next to White, the legendary actress apparently had no complaints.
“She goes, ‘No, I’m fine.’ I’m like, ‘F***er,’” Bullock remembered with a laugh.
Betty White Was In A League Of Her Own
For Bullock, White wasn’t just a talented actress—she was the definition of someone who knew how to enjoy life.
“She was the epitome of a human who lived her best life, found the best love, made lemonade out of absolutely everything, had timing that was unbelievable,” Bullock said.
© Kevin Mazur/TCA 2010And when it came to sharing a scene with White, Bullock knew better than to compete.
“You just don’t even bother to say anything funny. Don’t try. Just let it be Betty because she just could own a room. She was incredible,” she said.
The Proposal Helped Spark White’s Career Comeback
White’s role as Annie in The Proposal became part of a major resurgence for the actress, who had already built an iconic career through shows including The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Golden Girls.
The following year, she landed a starring role on TV Land’s Hot in Cleveland, which ran for five seasons.
Then, in May 2010, White made history when she hosted Saturday Night Live after a massive fan campaign pushed for the gig. At 88, she became the oldest person to host the sketch comedy show.
The appearance earned White an Emmy, marking her fifth and final win.
More than a decade after The Proposal hit theaters, Bullock’s memories of White make it clear that the actress left behind much more than a legendary film and television résumé—she left behind some unforgettable stories, too.
