Richard Gere Jokes About ‘No Chemistry’ with Julia Roberts in Iconic ‘Pretty Woman’
Richard Gere recently shared some playful reflections on his 1990 blockbuster film, Pretty Woman, during a masterclass at the 81st Venice Film Festival. The actor humorously remarked that he and his co-star, Julia Roberts, had “no chemistry” in a scene where his character, the wealthy businessman Edward, undresses Roberts’ character, Vivian. “This actor and this actress obviously had no chemistry between them,” Gere joked, adding, “I haven’t seen that in a long time. That’s a sexy scene.”
Gere also commented on his role in the beloved romantic comedy, describing it as “criminally underwritten.” He quipped, “It was basically a suit and a good haircut.” Despite the simplicity of his role, Gere never anticipated the film’s massive success. “This is a movie, a very small movie with a wonderful director named Garry Marshall,” Gere explained. “But we were having fun making this little, tiny movie. We didn’t know if anyone would ever see this little, tiny movie. No one would ever pay attention to this little, tiny movie.”
Of course, Gere’s prediction turned out to be a “big mistake,” as Pretty Woman became one of the top-grossing films of its time, solidifying its place in romantic comedy history.
One of the film’s most memorable scenes, the sexy piano sequence, was entirely improvised. Gere recalled, “Garry said to me, ‘What do you do late at night in a hotel?’ And I said, ‘Well, I’m usually jet-lagged. So, I’m up all night and usually there’s a ballroom somewhere, or a bar, and I’ll find a piano and I’ll play the piano.’” This offhand remark led to the creation of one of the movie’s most iconic moments. “We just basically improvised this scene,” Gere said. “I just started playing something moody that was this character’s interior life.”
Gere continues to take on new roles, most recently portraying a businessman who discovers he fathered a child 19 years earlier in the film Longing.
Pretty Woman may have started as a “tiny movie,” but it has left an indelible mark on film history, thanks to the undeniable, if understated, chemistry between its leads and the improvisational magic that brought it to life.
