Contact Music says Jamie Foxx struggled to learn the cello for ‘The Soloist,’ and only got really into it when he discovered cello playing ability impresses women.

‘The Soloist’ is the true story of Nathanial Ayers, a cello prodigy who suffered from schizophrenia and became homeless.

The ‘Ray’ Oscar winner was required to learn the cello to play the role of Ayers. But Foxx was less than enthusiastic about the instrument until he realized it was a chick magnet.

Director Joe Wright says, “He learnt how to play the cello and he practiced for six months. He was not fully committed for the first few weeks and then he discovered that girls quite like it when fellas play classical musical instruments and that upped his game.”

(Photo by PR Photos)