This post-it that convinced Richard Gere to star with Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman

What would be Pretty Woman without Julia Roberts, her bursting laugh and her almost childish spontaneity? If the romantic comedy has become, since its release in 1990, as iconic as the actress, the latter almost never put her name at the top of the poster. Guest of the show The Tonight Showon November 20, Richard Gere, who completes the iconic duo of the film, recounted the circumstances in which he met Julia Roberts and how he agreed to her getting the role.

When Julia meets Richard

At the time, the actor was already a celebrity in Hollywood thanks to his roles in American Gigolo (1980) et Officer and gentleman (1982). “She had made, I think, a film before, Mystic Pizza», says Gere. This is not completely true. At the time Garry Marshall offered the role to Julia Roberts, the latter was not as famous as him, of course, but she was starting to be famous all the same. In 1988, she was revealed in the dramatic comedy Mystic Pizza and the following year in the dramatic comedy Women's gossip. The film notably earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress, no less. Nevertheless, Richard Gere being the star that he already is, the director of Pretty Woman asks him for his opinion before confirming the choice of Julia Roberts in the role of Vivian.

“Please say yes”

“I remember Julia came to see me in New York and he (Garry Marshall editor’s note) said to me: “Richard, Julia, she’s talented. She’s talented, you’ll love her,” says Richard Gere. So she came to New York, to my office, Gary introduced us and he left.” Forty-five minutes later, the actor says the director called him to ask how the interview was going. Richard Gere informs Julia Roberts that Gary Marshall is on the other end of the line. “She’s on the other side of the desk and writing something on one of my Post-its,” says the actor. Then she turns around and puts it down, I read it and it says, “Please say yes.” So I said, 'Gary, I think I just said yes.'”

A Golden Globe for Julia

And we can say that the actor had a hollow nose. The film received numerous nominations, including, once again, Best Actress at the Academy Awards for Julia Roberts. It has also been rewarded numerous times, this time awarding the Golden Globe for best actress to the interpreter of Vivian. In addition to the awards, the film has above all won the hearts of audiences across several generations.