You're Never Going to Want to Let These Pretty Woman Secrets Go

As a devoted fan, I can recall the moment when Disney unveiled “Pretty Woman,” a captivating romantic comedy featuring an emerging actress named Julia Roberts in the lead role as a charming prostitute. At first glance, viewers might not have anticipated that this film would captivate them so profoundly that they’d never want to let it go.

Originally portraying a spontaneous waitress in “Mystic Pizza” and a bride-to-be who loves pink in “Steel Magnolias”, Georgia-born Roberts underwent a dramatic transformation by accepting the role of Vivian, the high-priced companion whom Richard Gere’s character, Edward, develops strong feelings for after paying her $3,000 to spend a week with him.

On a stage filled with aspirations, the release on March 23, 1990 was far from a typical happy ending, yet it was so remarkable that viewers nearly wet themselves with enthusiasm.

Produced at a cost of $17 million by renowned filmmaker Garry Marshall (who sadly passed away in 2016), this movie became well-known for its memorable lines. It eventually raked in over $460 million globally, garnered four Golden Globe nominations, and catapulted Julia Roberts into national recognition.

Not only was it among the most popular movies of the 1990s, narrowly surpassed by Ghost and Home Alone in terms of success, but it has also continued to be cherished as a timeless classic of cinematic romance.

But did you know several other actresses almost stepped into Vivian’s thigh-high boots?

Not that Molly Ringwald feels like she made a big mistake (huge!) by passing on the part.

Back in 2023, as I shared with The Guardian, while Julia Roberts delivered a fantastic performance, personally, the narrative didn’t resonate with me. There seemed to be an unsettling aspect that left me uncomfortable, which I couldn’t quite shake off.

It’s interesting to note that the initial draft of the script, named “$3,000” in relation to Edward’s compensation, turned out to be much more raw and gritty. This is only one revelation among many concerning this timeless classic.

Remain motionless, just like broccoli laid out, to learn more about the cherished movie where Vivian, played by Roberts, saves Edward, the businessman, in an unexpected turn of events (as Roberts explained on a 2023 episode of CBS Mornings, “He peacefully passed away in his sleep due to a heart attack, with a smile on his face. Now, Vivian is running his business.”).

The initial screenplay penned by J.F. Lawton was titled “3,000,” alluding to the sum Edward gives to Vivian.

In the raw, non-fairy-tale version that I adore, it wasn’t me and Edward who were destined to be together in the original script of Vanity Fair. Instead, a broken Vivian, played by Laura San Giacomo, was seen boarding a bus bound for Disneyland. This journey was funded by her week on the road after being tossed out of Edward’s car. As she gazed vacantly ahead, it was clear that our days together were numbered, with her addiction taking its toll.

3. It’s said that other actors who might have played Edward before Gere were rumored to be John Travolta, Christopher Reeve, Kevin Kline, Denzel Washington, and Sylvester Stallone prior to signing on.

4. As a die-hard fan, I’d have given anything to snag the part of Vivian! Diane Lane herself shared this tidbit during her stint on Watch What Happens Live. Unfortunately for me, and apparently for her too, she had to let go of the opportunity due to some clashing commitments.

5. As a die-hard fan, let me share that a handful of extraordinary actresses were considered for this coveted role: Daryl Hannah, Winona Ryder, Jennifer Connelly, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Mary Steenburgen, and Meg Ryan. Among them, Meg Ryan was the initial favorite of both the studio and Marshall himself.

6. According to Lane’s account, the script originally had a more rugged tone, but it morphed into an uplifting film after becoming Disney-like. Originally, the main character, a woman who seemed delusional, was ejected from a moving limousine at the end because she mistakenly believed the man loved her. She had only been hired for the weekend. And we felt a deep empathy towards her.

7. Initially, Marshall envisioned Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer as the main characters, but when he cast Gere and Roberts, his idea for the movie underwent a transformation after reading with Vanity Fair. (Pacino had actually read with Roberts before declining the role.)

He pointed out that if Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer had been cast instead, the movie might have been more faithful to the original script and possibly not had a happy ending. However, the chemistry between Julia and Richard is so strong that it’s hard to imagine any other outcome; their connection shines through on screen, just as it did during auditions.

8. The opera that Vivian and Edward go to as a pair is titled “La Traviata,” which tells the story of a gentleman who finds himself smitten by a courtesan. Quite delicately put, wouldn’t you agree?

9. Roberts needed to audition on two occasions. Initially, he secured the role while the budget was only $3,000. However, when Disney got involved with the project, the young and relatively unknown 21-year-old had to audition once more.

10. In their 2015 interview on Today, it was revealed that after repeatedly refusing the role of Edward, Roberts managed to convince Gere to star in the film. During a visit to New York to persuade him, Marshall phoned Gere to follow up. While they were talking, Roberts wrote “Please say yes” on a Post-it note and showed it to Gere over the phone. In response, Gere told Marshall he had just agreed to the role.

11. As for that famous movie poster, it wasn’t Julia Roberts’ physical figure in it! Instead, her head was digitally combined with a body double named Shelley Michelle.

12. Although the bubble bath scene was a memorable moment in the film, it caused trouble for Roberts’ hair since prolonged exposure to water washed away all the red color from her hair.

At the close of the day, the detergent washed away all my hair dye,” she shared with The Hollywood Reporter. “By ten in the evening, we needed an emergency hair coloring solution due to the tub.

13. In one challenging moment when I, as a director, found it tough to elicit authentic laughter from Roberts during the scene where Vivian was engrossed in reruns of “I Love Lucy,” Marshall, my trusty colleague, cleverly tickled her feet off-camera, successfully drawing out a genuine chuckle from my cherished leading actress.

14. In the piano sequence, Gere can be seen genuinely playing the keyboard. Notably, the tune he performs is an original creation that eventually made it onto the movie’s soundtrack.

15. Both Ferrari and Porsche turned down the opportunity to have their vehicles showcased in the movie because they preferred not to link their prestigious brands with solicitation of prostitution. In the end, Edward drove a sports car from Lotus Cars instead.

16. The homeless man that Edward asks for directions? It’s a quick cameo from Marshall.

17a. As a die-hard fan, I can empathize with Roberts when she confesses that she was a bundle of nerves during the filming of the intimate scene. “I’d never tackled anything like this before,” Roberts shared with ABC News. “Each time they called for a kiss, my body would react with an outbreak of hives.

18. The costume designer for the movie, Marilyn Vance, exclaimed, “What’s your aspiration? Everyone has one!”

18. It was Marilyn Vance, the film’s costume designer, who asked, “What’s your goal in life? Everyone has one, don’t they?

19. Apart from Chanel heels, Vance and their team were responsible for designing every outfit worn by Vivian in the film, including the polka dot polo dress and the well-known cut-out dress.

19. The only exception to the outfits worn by Vivian in the movie was her Chanel heels; everything else, from the polka dot polo dress to her famous cut-out dress, was created by Vance and their team.

20. Every suit that Edward tailored was specifically designed for Gerard, as Vance even traveled to Italy to pick out suitable material.

21. Initially, the film’s iconic look for Vivian at the opera was intended to be different, as the studio proposed a black dress instead of red, according to Vance’s interview with Elle. Three different looks were tried on before she successfully convinced them that the gown had to be red.

22. In the scene, Edward gifted Vivian an exquisite necklace featuring both rubies and diamonds, which held an astounding value of $250,000. Such invaluable jewelry required a dedicated security team to be present throughout filming.

23. The well-known moment was initially not intended for inclusion in the film. In a playful prank on Roberts, Marshall instructed Gere to slam the box shut during one take of the necklace scene, which elicited the authentic response from the actress. It wasn’t until the final editing process that Marshall decided to include this moment.

24. Roberts’ reported payday for Pretty Woman was $300,000.

25. Meg Ryan declined the role in “Pretty Woman,” which eventually earned Julia Roberts an Oscar nomination. Prior to rejecting “Pretty Woman,” Ryan refused the part in “Steel Magnolias” to star in “When Harry Met Sally.” It was Roberts who later received a Best Supporting Actress nomination for the emotional film, “Steel Magnolias.

26. Though it achieved unexpected box office success, even becoming one of the highest-earning films of the year, the director and the actors swore they would never make a follow-up movie.

Back then, we had agreed not to make another “Pretty Woman 2” unless the entire team was involved, as Marshall shared with “Today”.

27. In 1999, the three of them teamed up again for a romantic comedy called “Runaway Bride.” For this much-awaited reunion, Roberts received $17 million and Gere got $12 million. As reported by The Los Angeles Times, it was Gere who arranged the reunion. Although he was fond of the script, Gere requested one condition that the studio had to fulfill before he agreed to play Ike: “If you can get Julia (Roberts), I’m on board.” Eventually, they managed to persuade Marshall to direct the film.

28. Decades later, Pretty Woman remains Disney’s highest-grossing R-rated release.

29. By August 2018, after four years of preparation, “Pretty Woman: The Musical” premiered on Broadway for the first time. During its initial run in Chicago, Steve Kazee, who is engaged to Jenna Dewan, played the character Edward. Later, Samantha Barks, well-known for her role in “Les Miserables“, took on the role of Vivian.

30. The movie’s name is inspired by the Roy Orbison track “Oh, Pretty Woman,” a song included in its soundtrack.

2025-03-23 15:17

You’re Never Going to Want to Let These Pretty Woman Secrets Go

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