Richard Gere's appearance in 'Pretty Woman' was a turning point in his career. At first, he was hesitant, not seeing the character that was offered to him. But through a series of interactions and creative processes, he found his way into the hearts of audiences worldwide.

Discovering the Essence of 'Pretty Woman'

Richard Gere, now 75, shared his memories on The Hollywood Reporter's Awards Chatter podcast. He recalled the initial confusion when presented with the role of wealthy businessman Edward Lewis. "There was no clear character defined," Gere said. "I read the script and thought it wasn't for me."His initial impression was that Edward was just a suit, a stereotype. Meeting with director Garry Marshall was also an uncomfortable experience as he didn't want to do the movie. However, things took a turn when they started discussing the script.Marshall encouraged Gere to find the character together. This led to a series of meetings and interactions. Gere even met Julia Roberts, who had already been cast as Vivian Ward. The director even called during their meeting to check on Gere's thoughts about her.As they worked together, they tried to find a character that made sense within the story. They aimed to make it heartfelt, charming, fun, and sexy. "We all loved each other. There was great trust, and we had a wonderful time," Gere said.The film became a hit, and Roberts received her second Academy Award nomination. It also led to their reunion in 1999's 'Runaway Bride'.This journey shows the power of collaboration and the ability to transform a seemingly unpromising role into a cinematic classic.