Hollywood actress Julia Roberts recently reflected on whether she would star in a remake of the iconic film ‘Pretty Woman’ today.
The 58-year-old actress portrayed Vivian Ward, a sex worker, in the 1990 romantic comedy. However, she believes it would be “impossible” for her to take on such a role now, given the changing perspectives in society. In an interview with Deadline, she expressed:
“Oh, it’s impossible. I have too many years of the weight of the world inside of me now that I wouldn’t be able to kind of levitate in a movie like that, right? I mean, not weight of the world, like, negative, but just all the things that we learn, all the things we put in our pockets along the lane. It would be impossible to play someone who was really innocent, in a way. I mean, it’s a funny thing to say about a hooker, but I do think that there was an innocence to her, kind of… I guess it’s just being young.”
As reported, opinions regarding ‘Pretty Woman,’ where Julia’s character develops a relationship with wealthy corporate raider Edward Lewis, played by Richard Gere, have evolved over time. Roberts acknowledges why some viewers may now feel uncomfortable with the film.
She stated, “Well, I think anytime you have a huge passage of time and cultural shifts. Think about all the movies and plays of the ’20s and ’30s and ’40s; you would look at them now and just be like, ‘How are people saying these things, doing these things?’”
The Oscar-winner also shared thoughts on her role in the 1999 film ‘Notting Hill,’ where she starred alongside Hugh Grant as a Hollywood star who falls for a London bookstore owner. Interestingly, she admitted that she found the premise “stupid” when first approached for the project.
Overall, Julia Roberts’ insights reflect how evolving societal views can influence perceptions of cinema over decades.