This Friday sees the release of Sandra Bullock’s latest cinematic outing, The Heat. Having already made a butt-load of money in the States, and with fans already clambering for a sequel, it would appear that Bullock is well and truly back on the map. Aside from a small role in last year’s Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, Bullock has been off our screens for nearly four years, but we’re welcoming her back with open arms because, let’s face it, EVERYBODY loves her. She’s replaced the likes of Julia Roberts and Cameron Diaz as our go-to American sweetheart, and here's ten movies that explain why!

DEMOLITION MAN (1993)

While not the first movie she starred in, some may even remember her in the US remake of The Vanishing, this was the first time Bullock was brought to our universal attention. This high-octane, high-concept sci-fi action film was full of gun fights and explosions, but Bullock’s adorable side-kick almost completely stole the show from both Sylverster Stallone and Wesley Snipes. Especially during that virtual reality sex scene. Naughty!

SPEED (1994)

This was the moment that completely galvanized Bullock’s career, as (let’s face it) the REAL hero of the day, stepping up to take over driving a bus with a bomb on board once it’s driver is accidentally shot. She had killer chemistry with Keanu Reeves, she was not the typical damsel in distress, and she was just so damned loveable that whenever she was in trouble you were on the edge of your seat.

WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING (1995)

The first of many romantic comedies that Sandra took centre stage in, While You Were Sleeping was actually a nicely complicated story… well, slightly more complicated than you’re usual rom-com. Falling in love with a man in a coma, only to find out that he’s already got a girlfriend, and then having to keep up the charade as she then falls in love with coma guy’s brother, Bullock kept you on her side even as she was lying her ass off.

A TIME TO KILL (1996)

After all the "light-hearted" stuff, this was Sandra’s first steps towards movies that were a bit more serious. A killer cast - Matthew McConaughey, Kevin Spacey, Samuel L Jackson, Kiefer Sutherland, Ashley Judd - and a hot topic issue of racism and murder in the courts, Bullock played a plucky and sharp witted law student who comes to the defence’s aid in their time of need. Again, she is one of the highlights in a movie already filled with them.

MISS CONGENIALITY (2000)

Bullock hit a bit of a rough patch at the end of the 90’s, with The Net, Hope Floats, Practical Magic, Forces Of Nature and the dreaded Speed 2, but made a triumphant return with this girlie comedy about a tough-as-nails FBI agent who’s forced to infiltrate the Miss America pageant to find a terrorist. Not exactly taxing on the brain, but the kind of candy-floss fluff that can make two hours zip by.

CRASH (2005)

Trying too hard to be taken seriously in 28 Days, then too hard to be funny in Miss Congeniality 2, and the only memorable thing about Murder By Numbers is that she dated her co-star Ryan Gosling, Oscar-devourer Crash featured Bullock in a role like we’ve never seen before: unlikeable. Racist, bigoted and mean, it was a side to her we’d never been aware of, and proved she was willing to test her boundaries for the right material.

THE BLIND SIDE (2009)

The first of three movies released in 2009 that showed just how high a star can rise, and how low they can fall in such a small space of time, The Blind Side got Bullock her first Academy Award, playing a woman who helps a homeless and traumatised teenager to become a hugely successful American football player. Yes, it was as cheesy as a pack of Easi-Singles, but Sandra’s natural charm won through in the end.

THE PROPOSAL (2009)

One of Sandra’s biggest box office hits to date - $317 million for a romantic comedy is not to be sniffed at - this movie cemented Bullock’s status as our reigning queen of the rom-coms. Playing a snippy, tightly wound executive who has forced her assistant Ryan Reynolds to marry her for a green card, even when she’s offering a dog to an eagle in exchange for the blackberry that it’s just snatched from her hands (this ACTUALLY happens in the movie), you can’t help but laugh at how little thought she gives to making such a fool of herself.

ALL ABOUT STEVE (2009)

No career is free of flops, and Sandra has her fair share - Speed 2, the ghastly Premonition, whatever the hell The Net was - but nothing holds a candle to All About Steve. One of those rare "you NEED to see this!" levels of bad, the reason it’s on this list is because Sandra was nominated for Best Actress at the Golden Raspberry Awards (the opposite of the Oscars), then showed up graciously to accept the award, and gave everyone in the audience a copy of All About Steve to take home on DVD. Ledgebag.

GRAVITY (2013)

We’ve gone on about how awesome this movie is going to be (read HERE for more info) but don’t be surprised if Miss Bullock is up accepting another Oscar for her part in this come next year.