VIDEO: Leigh Anne Tuohy 'Awfully Proud Of Sandy' Bullock
Mar. 7 2010, Published 1:59 p.m. ET
Leigh Anne Tuohy, the woman who Sandra Bullock's Oscar-winning performance in The Blind Side was based on, told The Today Show on Monday she was happy to take a backseat to Bullock on her special night and RadarOnline.com has the clip.
Tuohy, known for her candor and outspokenness, said she wasn’t going to steal Bullock’s thunder as the show biz veteran nabbed best actress honors at Sunday’s Academy Awards.
"For once, I didn't burn my little redneck mouth, and all night long, everyone was giving me a hard time," Tuohy said.
"I was on my best behavior," she said. "Because Bullock has worked really, really hard at this, not just me but with other movies.”
In The Blind Side, Bullock portrayed Tuohy, who took in homeless Tennessee teen Michael Oher and watched as he blossomed into a world-class athlete, from an All-American at Ole Miss to first-round NFL draft pick to starting lineman for the Baltimore Ravens.
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Tuohy said the moment Bullock's name was called, immortalizing both of their names in Oscar lore, "My husband's hand went on my leg.. I got the death grip, like 'Don't Move.'"
"I think she nailed me pretty well," she said of Bullock’s performance in the film, noting that her own family has joked there's now two of her running around.
"We're awfully proud of Sandy -- good for her," she said.