"I Didn't Really Ever Think I Would Get It": The Matrix Star Had Several Auditions Before Being Cast As Trinity

Carrie-Anne Moss, who starred as Trinity in The Matrix (1999), revealed she never expected to land the iconic role. T he Matrix follows hacker Neo (Keanu Reeves), who discovers the world he lives in is a simulation controlled by sentient machines, and joins a rebellion to liberate humanity. Moss’s character, Trinity, is a skilled hacker and fierce leather-clad warrior, who becomes both Neo’s ally and love interest, and her performance solidified her as a memorable cyberpunk heroine in modern sci-fi cinema. Though The Matrix quickly became a critical and commercial success, Moss’s path to securing the role was anything but simple.

In an interview with Collider, Moss reflects on the uncertainty she felt during the audition process, auditioning for the role six or seven times. At the time, Moss knew little about the project beyond the involvement of Keanu Reeves and The Wachowskis, whose only previous feature was the neo-noir queer drama Bound, which Moss hadn’t seen. Despite her doubts, she continued to approach each audition with dedication, pleasantly surprised and grateful every time she received a call-back. Read the full quote here:

I certainly didn't think I would get the part, and I was 29 during that process, because I actually screen-tested with Keanu on my 30th birthday. So I was young, but, you know, in Hollywood, I was not that young. It was like the world opened up to me.

I think I had six or seven auditions for that, and every audition that I would get, I would just be like, 'Wow, this is so amazing that they want to see me again, and I'm just going to celebrate that,' because I didn't really ever think I would get it. I could imagine there were a lot of movie stars who were wanting it and up for it, and I just kept working hard and showing up and giving my all, but I was pretty surprised when I got it.

What Moss's Reveal Means for The Matrix's Trinity

The Impact Of Moss’s Casting Struggle On Her Iconic Matrix Role

Moss’s confession about her casting journey highlights the unexpected nature of her path to becoming Trinity and emphasizes the resilience needed for the role. Despite her self-doubt and the intense competition, Moss ultimately embodied Trinity's tenacity and determination. Moss having to audition multiple times before securing the role, even screen-testing on her 30th birthday, reflects the high stakes and intense journey process behind The Matrix cast. It also sheds light on The Wachowskis’ commitment to finding the right actor to bring Trinity to life, someone who could harness the right mix of vulnerability, grit, and chemistry to Reeves’s Neo.

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Moss’s story also emphasizes the discriminatory age standards in Hollywood casting. Even though she was only 29 during the audition process, Moss still felt she fell short of industry standards, a reminder of the industry’s historically narrow view of age for women, especially in action roles. Her experience reveals that while she might not have been the expected “young” lead, her undeniable commitment and performance ultimately won over the Wachowskis. The result was a powerful, nuanced portrayal that helped define Trinity as a complex, strong female character.

Our Take On Moss's Confession

Why Moss’s Confession Makes Her Performance As Trinity Even More Legendary

During a time when casting female leads often leaned towards younger stars, Moss’s success story shows that one's ability to capture depth and power is far more important than age. Her confession about her doubts and ultimate surprise at landing the role make her performance all the more meaningful for audiences, showing that sometimes, the most iconic roles come for those who dare to try, try, and try again. Moss’s Trinity in The Matrix is a testament to the strength it takes to keep showing up and giving it your all, no matter how unlikely success may seem.

Source: Collider

The Matrix, directed by the Wachowskis, stars Keanu Reeves as Neo, a hacker who discovers that reality is a simulated construct controlled by intelligent machines. Laurence Fishburne and Carrie-Anne Moss co-star as Morpheus and Trinity, who help Neo navigate and ultimately challenge the artificial world. The film blends action, philosophy, and groundbreaking visual effects, establishing itself as a pivotal entry in the science fiction genre.

Director Lana Wachowski , Lilly Wachowski

Release Date March 31, 1999

Writers Lilly Wachowski , Lana Wachowski

Runtime 136 minutes