The charming, humorous, and unmistakable chemistry that Richard Gere and Julia Roberts shared in the leading roles of the romantic comedy “Pretty Woman” from 1990 continues to make it one of the most cherished films of all time. However, what many people don’t realise is that all it took to convince Richard Gere to play the famous part that would forever define his career was for Julia Roberts to say just three words.
In an interview given many years after the movie was first released, Richard Gere explained the deciding factor that caused him to agree to play the part of Edward Lewis in the film. Lewis is an affluent businessman who falls in love with a lively prostitute named Vivian Ward, who was portrayed by Julia Roberts. Gere explained that on their first meeting, Roberts looked him straight in the eye and implored, “Please say yes.”
These three lines had a great amount of weight and resonance because they revealed Julia Roberts’ faith in Richard Gere’s capacity to give the character a sense of depth and authenticity. Gere was moved by her pleading, and as a result, he decided to put his faith in his hunches and start on the life-changing path of portraying Edward Lewis.
The choice that Gere made ended up becoming a defining moment in his professional life. It was the electrifying chemistry between him and Roberts that propelled “Pretty Woman” to unparalleled levels of popularity and cemented Gere’s position as a prominent Hollywood actor. The movie quickly became a cultural phenomenon as it won the favour and admiration of viewers all around the world.
In retrospect, Gere has fondly recalled his time spent working on “Pretty Woman” and the significant contribution the project made to his professional development. He recognises Roberts’s intuitiveness and her appreciation of the story’s potential, both of which played a key influence in convincing him to take on the job, and he acknowledges the significant role that she played in this.
In addition to its triumph at the box office, the picture “Pretty Woman” had an enduring effect on popular culture. It revolutionised the romantic comedy subgenre and had a profound effect on following films. Gere’s performance as Edward Lewis, an intricate character who goes on a journey of self-discovery, highlighted his versatility as an actor and opened the way for him to pursue a variety of characters in his upcoming films.
The significance of Julia Roberts’s three simple words to Richard Gere serves as a reminder of the necessity of trusting one’s intuition and making true connections in the process of creating something new. This exemplifies the power that can be wielded by an impassioned argument to shape the future of a project as well as the trajectories of the careers of individuals participating in it.
Decades after it was first released, “Pretty Woman” still has the capacity to captivate audiences. The film serves as a reminder of the transformative power of love as well as the magic that can occur when creative actors collaborate. It is a monument to the collaborative spirit and the deep influence that human connections are capable of having in the world of film that Richard Gere decided to take the job based on Julia Roberts’ pleading with him to do so. Julia Roberts pleaded with Richard Gere.