‘The Matrix Reloaded’: Jada Pinkett Smith Landed the Role After Her Failed ‘Matrix’ Audition

While Jada Pinkett Smith isn’t in The Matrix cast, the actor was able to land her role in The Matrix Reloaded after originally auditioning for the character Trinity. Pinkett Smith made a huge impression on the directors, who created the character Niobe for her in the franchise’s sequels: The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions, and The Matrix 4.

Jada Pinkett Smith auditioned for ‘The Matrix’

During a 2015 interview on The Howard Stern Show, Pinkett Smith shared her audition story about The Matrix. The actor auditioned for the part of Trinity but sadly didn’t have any chemistry with Keanu Reeves.

“Keanu and I didn’t, uh, really click. We just didn’t have any chemistry, he and I,” she explained.

Even though she didn’t land the part, she was happy that Carrie-Anne Moss played the role. “I do wish [I had been cast as Trinity], but I look at Carrie-Anne and I just go, she’s freaking amazing,” Pinkett Smith shared. “There’s no way in the world I would have brought that.”

‘The Matrix Reloaded’: Jada Pinkett Smith’s role was created for her

Even though Pinkett Smith wasn’t a good fit to play Trinity, The Matrix‘s directors, the Wachowskis, created a role for her in the sequels.

The character Niobe was first played by Pinkett Smith in The Matrix Reloaded and appeared in The Matrix Revolutions. She will return in the upcoming The Matrix 4.

Jada Pinkett Smith had to lie to play Niobe in ‘The Matrix Reloaded’

While explaining some of her career highlights over the years in a video for Vanity Fair, Pinkett Smith revealed how she got The Matrix Reloaded role.

“I didn’t get Trinity, but they kept me in mind. And they wrote a part for me called Niobe,” Pinkett Smith explained. “And I’ll never forget when they called me in and they were like, Jada, we have this role for you, Niobe, but you’re pregnant.”

The actor didn’t want to miss out on the opportunity to be in such a huge movie, so she fibbed just a little bit.

“And I’ll tell you a secret. I lied,” the actor confessed. “Because Willow was supposed to be due November 11 but I told them, ‘No worries, the baby’s coming in October, so by the time the end of November comes, I’m going to be ready.’”

“Let me tell you, my baby girl came on October 31st,” she continued. “Do you know mama was ready. I was ready. End of November to start The Matrix. Pushed that baby out, got in the gym and got it together.”

She had to confirm one deal-breaker with the directors

Pinkett Smith also revealed in a 2003 interview with the Chicago Tribune that she wanted to clarify one thing before playing Niobe.

“What I loved about Niobe was that she was created for me,” Pinkett Smith said at the time. “I met the Wachowskis for the first Matrix, so I really didn’t need to read anything when I was told ‘They created this character for you.’”

She recalled asking, “‘Really? Any nudity?’ ‘Nope.’ ‘All right then! Let’s get it on!’”