Gwyneth Paltrow Reveals Robert Downey Jr's Influence on Her Return to Acting
Gwyneth Paltrow credits her 'Iron Man' costar Robert Downey Jr for motivating her to return to acting, stating that he has the power to always reignite her passion
Robert Downey Jr and Gwyneth Paltrow. Alberto E. Rodriguez/WireImage/Getty Images
Gwyneth Paltrow has reduced her involvement in movies lately, but she reveals that there's one actor who might be able to bring her back to the screen.
"It's currently quite challenging for me to take on any acting roles due to my current job," explained the 51-year-old Goop CEO during an interview with Entertainment Tonight on November 6. "However, I suppose Robert Downey Jr. has the potential to convince me to return... to some extent."
Paltrow and Downey Jr., aged 58, have co-starred in a total of seven Marvel movies. These include Iron Man (2008), Iron Man 2 (2010), The Avengers (2012), Iron Man 3 (2013), Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), and Avengers: Endgame (2019). Paltrow portrayed the character Pepper Potts, who serves as Tony Stark's (aka Iron Man) personal assistant and love interest, with Downey Jr. playing the role of Tony Stark.
After working together for many years, the actress behind Shakespeare in Love developed a strong bond with Downey Jr. In fact, she revealed in 2007 that he played a significant role in her decision to join the Marvel universe in the first place.
"It wasn't about the budget at all. If I received a call about a six-million-dollar movie with these people, I would immediately accept," she disclosed to Entertainment Weekly during that period. "Working with Robert Downey Jr. has always been a dream of mine. He’s incredibly talented, and surprisingly, I hadn't been approached to collaborate on a film with him until now."
Downey Jr. playfully hinted later on that he had the advantage of a "free pass" for romantic scenes with Paltrow due to her close relationship with his wife, Susan Downey.
In 2016 on The Howard Stern Show, he jokingly revealed that his "free pass" - due to her close friendship with Susan - is Paltrow. He expressed his desire to have her return to the movies so that they can share an onscreen kiss once again.
After her appearance in Netflix's The Politician in 2020, Paltrow decided to retire from acting and concentrate on developing her wellness and lifestyle brand. Recently, she expressed her anticipation of fully distancing herself from the entertainment industry in the coming days.
"I will completely vanish from the public eye," she revealed to Bustle during an interview released on October 18, when discussing her forthcoming endeavors after ultimately selling Goop. "There will be no further sightings of me."
Paltrow established Goop in 2008 and, as its CEO, thrives on "crafting, cooperating, experiencing sparks of inspiration, pioneering, envisioning the future, strategizing, and envisioning that type of work."
Paltrow plans to sell the company in a few years, allowing her to prioritize spending time with her family. She has been married to producer Brad Falchuk since 2018 and has two children, daughter Apple (19) and son Moses (17), from her previous marriage to Chris Martin. Additionally, Paltrow is a stepmother to Falchuk's two children, Isabella (19) and Brody (17). In 2018, Goop was valued at $250 million by The New York Times. Paltrow's accomplishments continued on November 6, when she received the Council of Fashion Designers of America Innovation Award at the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards in New York City.
Paltrow expressed her pride in her company's progress after 15 years of hard work and determination. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, she shared her satisfaction in witnessing the consistent growth year after year, attributing it to her unwavering passion and dedication. Paltrow found the journey exhilarating.
