In a candid sit-down with Speedy Morman from Complex, comedy icon Eddie Murphy reflected on his legendary career, revealing that in over four decades in Hollywood, he’s never auditioned for a movie role. The sole exception? His 1980 audition for Saturday Night Live (SNL), the show that launched him into stardom.
“I’ve never auditioned for a movie in my life,” Murphy said. “The only audition I’ve ever done was for SNL. Everything after that just happened.”
The interview, part of his press tour for his new Amazon Prime film The Pickup—co-starring Keke Palmer, Pete Davidson, and WWE’s Roman Reigns—also took a nostalgic turn as Murphy recounted working with Beyoncé and Jennifer Hudson on the 2006 hit Dreamgirls. Murphy, who played soul singer James “Thunder” Early in the musical drama, remembered the energy both women brought to the set.
“Beyoncé was already a superstar, but she still worked like she was proving herself every day,” Murphy recalled.
“Jennifer Hudson was fresh off American Idol, and she came in and just blew everybody away. Watching her deliver that performance… it was special.”
Beyond Hollywood anecdotes, Murphy also spoke about what matters most to him at this stage in his life: the legacy he hopes to leave his ten children.
“I don’t want my kids to just remember me as the guy from the movies,” Murphy said.
“I want them to say, ‘He was a good father, he taught us to be kind, to be humble, and to be ourselves.’ The work is great, but family is everything.”
With a career that’s spanned blockbuster comedies, acclaimed dramas, and unforgettable stand-up, Eddie Murphy continues to command the spotlight while keeping his priorities rooted in family and values. And judging by the reception of The Pickup, the next chapter in his story is just as captivating as the first.
