Getting prepared for a big film role takes a lot of time and dedication for a performer looking to hit all the right notes in front of the camera, and the people that get to sit back and watch these movies might not truly understand what goes into role preparation. Stars like Brad Pitt, Dwayne Johnson, and Jennifer Aniston have all had successful film roles, and plenty of preparation went into making it just right.
Jamie Foxx is one of the biggest names in entertainment, and this is largely because he can seemingly do everything well. During the 2000s, Foxx would star as Ray Charles in the biopic Ray, and to say that he turned heads with his performance would be an understatement.
Let’s take a look at how Jamie Foxx transformed into the great Ray Charles!
He Had To Prove Himself To Ray Charles
While preparing to play Ray Charles, Jamie Foxx knew that he was going to have to prove himself to the masses with his performance if he wanted to make big things happen. Furthermore, he was going to have to prove himself to the fans of Ray Charles, as well. Turns out, while Foxx was preparing to take on the role, he had to prove himself to the man himself!
According to the San Francisco Gate, Foxx would open up about the experience, saying, “It was like waiting in a doctor's office. Do I have it, or do I not have it? Ray walks in and says 'You know what, man, if you can play the blues, baby, you can do anything. Don't worry about playing me.' So he gets on one piano, I get on the other, and we start playing the blues back and forth.”
And just like that, Foxx was having to put on a show for the man that he would be playing on the big screen. This was no normal audition. Rather, it was Foxx showcasing his abilities to a legend of music to get his approval for a biopic that would be telling his life story for the entire world to see.
Foxx was going through a trial but fire, and he would continue on with his audition tale. It was a tough go at first, but eventually, Foxx would pass the test.
He would continue, saying, “You feel him testing you, like, 'OK, I'm in the band and it's the gig on Friday night in Poughkeepsie and I hit a bad note and he heard it, so he's on me.' And then he makes the simplest comment: He says, 'The notes is right underneath your fingers. All you got to do is take time out to find out which note it is to play.' So I finally played it, and he claps his hands: 'The kid's got it.'”
He Glued His Eyes Shut
After gaining the approval from the man himself, it was time for Jamie Foxx to really turn things up on screen. Now, there are plenty of stories of actors going the extra mile to get into character while filming, but what Jamie Foxx did on the set of Ray is something that few would be bold enough to to try.
According to Cheat Sheet, Foxx was willing to glue his eyes shut while filming, firmly placing him in Charles’ shoes. The famed singer spent the majority of his life blind, but he never gave up on his passion to be a dynamic musician.
When speaking with the New York Times, Foxx would say, “Imagine having your eyes glued shut for 14 hours a day. That's your jail sentence."
It has been said that Foxx would experience terrors with his eyes glued shut. On top of all of this, he also lost 30 lbs. to play the iconic singer.
He Won An Oscar For His Performance
So, was losing the weight, going through a baptism by fire, and glueing his eyes shut for hours on end worth it? Of course it was!
Jamie Foxx received an incredible amount of acclaim for his performance in Ray. His ability to emulate the singer from head to toe was just incredible, and at times, it was genuinely like seeing a young Ray Charles on the big screen.
For his unbelievable performance in the film, Jamie Foxx would take home the Academy Award for Best Actor, according to IMDb. This was an incredible triumph for the actor, who officially cemented himself as one of the biggest and most talented names in the entire world.
Jamie Foxx went through great lengths to prepare for his role in Ray, and at the end of the day, all of it went into the performer giving an amazing performance.