Can you believe it? Richard Gere almost turned down the role that would become one of the most iconic performances of his career in Pretty Woman. But then, during a meeting with the one and only Julia Roberts, she slipped him a little Post-It note that said, “Please say yes.” Talk about a game-changer! That simple note convinced Richard to take the leap, and the rest, as they say, is Hollywood history.
Let’s rewind to 1990. This romantic comedy about Edward Lewis, a wealthy businessman, and Vivian Ward, an escort he hires to pretend to be his girlfriend, wasn’t just any movie—it became a cultural phenomenon. It raked in over $460 million at the box office and earned Julia her very first Oscar nomination. Not bad for a "little tiny movie," right?
From Tiny Movie to Blockbuster Hit
At the Venice International Film Festival, Richard, now 75, opened up about the making of the film. “We were just having so much fun creating this little tiny movie,” he recalled during a masterclass on September 1. “But honestly, we had no idea if anyone would ever even see it. We were just focused on doing our best work.”
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And that’s what makes the story of Pretty Woman so fascinating. It wasn’t some big-budget extravaganza with all the bells and whistles. It was a heartfelt, well-crafted story that struck a chord with audiences around the world.
The Improvised Piano Scene: A Moment of Magic
During the same festival discussion, Richard shared another interesting tidbit: the iconic piano scene, where Edward and Vivian share an intimate moment, was completely improvised. “This wasn’t in the script,” he revealed. “We weren’t sure how it would fit into the movie, but it ended up being one of the most important scenes in the entire film. Talk about serendipity!”
Even though it’s been years since Richard has seen that clip of him and Julia, 56, getting steamy atop a piano, he still acknowledges just how unforgettable that scene was. “Oh, it was sexy, sexy,” he joked. “But let’s be real here—we had no chemistry. I mean, can you believe this actor and this actress had absolutely no chemistry between them?” Of course, we all know that’s not true, but it’s always fun to hear stars poke fun at themselves.
