Sandra Bullock has made an emotional admission about the way she has been able to find happiness again following several extraordinarily difficult years, which included the death of her longtime partner Bryan Randall.
The 62-year-old actress reflected on her life and her current situation during an appearance on the “SmartLess” podcast as she prepares to return to the big screen in “Practical Magic 2.”
Her comments come three years after Randall died at 57 following a private battle with ALS. The actress admitted that caring for Randall while also bringing up her children meant she had little time to focus on herself. However, she now admits that she has been able to prioritize her own well-being and is genuinely happy again.
Sandra Bullock Says She Learned to Take Care of Herself
During the podcast discussion, Bullock acknowledged that the past few years have been particularly challenging for her. She also expressed a belief that she had neglected herself but was forced to reconsider her priorities due to a health scare she experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Following Randall’s death, Bullock has spent several years grieving and coming to terms with her new life but now admits that she feels happy and is finally looking after herself properly.
“My sister for my birthday gave me this beautiful pewter box and it said ‘Leonardo da Vinci,’ a quote by him at like 87, he says, ‘I’m still learning,’” she said on the podcast. “I went ‘Oh.’ That’s why, I think, I have such happiness in my chest.”
She added, “Other things can frustrate me, things can upset me, I get [expletive] off, I get petty, but there’s a… I’m so happy and I feel like I’m a kid for the first time in my life as I’m seeing things that I’ve seen a million times before.”
Bullock continued, “But now I see them with such a love that I didn’t have before. It’s just, yes, I have a great therapist. Yes, I think I did the right thing with the kids. Yes, I did usher out Brian the way a human being deserves to be ushered out. I didn’t take care of myself then, but I so take care of myself now.”
Sandra Bullock Kept Bryan Randall’s ALS Battle Secret
Randall died in August 2023 after living with ALS for three years. Bullock also spoke about the enormous emotional burden of keeping Randall’s ALS battle private at his request and caring for him during the illness. “I wasn’t allowed to speak about it,” she explained.
Bullock said Randall wanted his illness kept completely private, leaving only a small circle aware of what the family was experiencing.
According to Bullock, Random has asked for his ALS diagnosis to be kept private, with only a small circle of friends and family aware that he had the illness. The pair began dating in 2015 and Bullock chose to honor his wishes, protecting his dignity throughout the years he suffered from ALS.
