Where Is Leigh Anne Tuohy From The Blind Side Now?
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Even though "The Blind Side" came out more than a decade ago, the 2009 film resonated so much with audience members that it has remained memorable and worth rewatching. The heartfelt movie stars Quinton Aaron as Michael Oher, a homeless teenager who is adopted by Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock). The film is based on a true story, as depicted in the book "The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game," which details how Oher went from a traumatized young man to a top college football prospect, and the struggles he overcame before he went on to enjoy a successful NFL career as an offensive lineman.
The film was a success, with Bullock reportedly earning almost $75 million and winning the Academy Award for best actress following its release. But her portrayal wasn't out of thin air — the character is based on Tuohy and the road that led her to bring Oher into her family. While the intense buzz around the film has obviously subsided in the years after its release, it did give her a platform to not only tell her family's story but to encourage other people to lend a helping hand.
Leigh Anne Tuohy and her husband, Sean, still live in Memphis, Tennessee, and are proud parents of three — and now, according to Instagram, grandparents as well. The core values of their family seem to remain, but Tuohy's been pretty busy since "The Blind Side" thrust her into the public eye back in 2009.
She became a published author
Even though "The Blind Side" was based on Michael Lewis' novel about the Tuohy family, Leigh Anne Tuohy went on to become an author herself following the theatrical adaptation. Back in 2011, she and her husband, Sean, co-wrote "In a Heartbeat: Sharing the Power of Cheerful Giving," where they told the story of their lives and their family in their own words with an emphasis on their Christian faith. However, while the film centers more around Oher's upbringing, the Tuohys give some insight into their own personal journeys and family histories (via Amazon).
Then, in 2015, Tuohy also wrote the book, "Turn Around: Reach Out, Give Back, And Get Moving," which is all about giving. Also written through a Christian lens, Tuohy uses Bible verses to explain her personal feelings on how everyone has opportunities daily to help other people. It's marketed like a self-help book to help people pursue more selfless activities in their day-to-day lives.
She pursues different money making avenues
While much of Leigh Anne Tuohy's time is dedicated to charity work, she also has embarked on some interesting business ventures in recent years. She and her husband own a variety of fast-food franchise locations, such as Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and more, according to Wide Open Country. Tuohy can often be seen on her Instagram page sporting merchandise from the various fast food brands to promote her businesses.
Additionally, Tuohy has also found success in motivational speaking. She's given lectures in a variety of group settings, whether it be for corporations or religious groups. In general, her speeches tend to center around her family's story, how the experience impacted her, and how other people can make an impact in someone's life in a similar way (via her personal website).
Even before "The Blind Side," Tuohy was a working interior designer. However, her celebrity status led to her appearing as part of the design team on "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" back in 2010 (via IMDb).
Her life is dedicated to helping those less fortunate
Following the success of "The Blind Side," Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy established their family charity, the Making It Happen Foundation. According to the foundation's website, their mission is to provide awareness and help "improve the standard living and quality of life for all the children fighting to survive in the invisible cracks of our society." The organization works on a wide variety of projects, from donating necessities to children in need to taking groups of kids to participate in fun activities.
When speaking with Deseret News in 2020 about the impact "The Blind Side" had on her family, Tuohy said it opened her eyes to everyone's power to make a change. "[Our society] needs to do a better job of realizing that everyone has potential and that everyone pretty much has the ability to make a difference," she said.
The biggest takeaway from Tuohy's social media presence is that she's totally dedicated to helping those in need. She's always posting photos of kids in need of loving foster/adoptive homes — the number of photos of kids doubles the number of photos about her personal life on her page. It's clear that making the personal decision to adopt Michael Oher wasn't enough — she wants to help as many young people as possible find matches for loving homes.