Richard Gere Reflects On Almost Turning Down “Pretty Woman”
It’s impossible to picture anyone but Richard Gere playing Edward Lewis, the suave businessman who stole hearts in Pretty Woman. But, believe it or not, Richard nearly turned down the iconic role.
The 75-year-old actor opened up on The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast about how he initially didn’t see himself in the beloved 1990 romantic comedy. “I’m so proud of that movie and proud of the work process that we did to create that movie,” he said, adding, “And I’m not only proud, I’m thankful for that movie because it allowed me to do a lot of other things too.”
Richard’s hesitation stemmed from his view of Edward Lewis. “There was no character. So, I read this thing, and I said, ‘It’s not for me’” he explained.
According to the actor, he viewed Edward as “just a suit.”
Despite his reservations, Richard agreed to meet with the film’s director, Garry Marshall, though he admitted to feeling “uncomfortable” about the whole idea.
During their meeting, he voiced his concerns. “We start talking about the script and I said, ‘Look, I just don’t see a character,’” he recalled.
But Garry wasn’t ready to give up. “Let’s you and me find it,” the director said, igniting a creative spark between the two.
Garry then insisted Richard meet Julia Roberts, who had already been cast as Vivian Ward, the spirited sex worker destined to win Edward’s heart. It was this encounter that changed everything.
Richard shared how, 45 minutes into their meeting, Garry called his office to check in what the actor thought of Julia’s casting in the film.
As he spoke, Julia slid a Post-It note across the table that read, “Please say yes.”
“So how could you say no to that?” he laughed.
That moment sealed the deal, and the rest is Hollywood history. Richard and Julia worked together to shape their characters, transforming Edward into someone charming, heartfelt, and layered. “And we all loved each other. Great trust, we had a wonderful time, and we had no idea that it was gonna be what it was,” he said of the cast and crew.
Pretty Woman became an instant classic, catapulting Julia to superstardom and earning her a second Academy Award nomination. Richard, Julia, and Garry later reunited for another hit rom-com, Runaway Bride, in 1999.
Reflecting on his Pretty Woman experience, Richard expressed gratitude, saying, “And I’m not only proud, I’m thankful for that movie because it allowed me to do a lot of other things too.”
