Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow has opened up about the intimate scene she refused to film with co-star Ethan Hawke in their 1998 movie, Great Expectations. The revelation came during a joint interview for Vanity Fair earlier this month.
The Scene That Never Was
During the conversation, Hawke, 53, prompted Paltrow, also 53, by asking if she recalled director Alfonso Cuaron pitching the controversial love scene. The modern adaptation of the Charles Dickens novel featured the pair in leading roles.
Paltrow immediately reacted with an "Oh my God," before recounting how Cuaron had described a scene where her character would receive oral sex from Hawke's character, Finn. The director's vision was reportedly graphic, with the camera moving intimately over her body before capturing her face "as you reach ecstasy," culminating in a burst of light.
A Decision Rooted in Family
Paltrow's primary reason for rejecting the scene was her father, producer Bruce Paltrow. "I was like, 'Oh my God, my father's going to have a heart attack,'" she explained. The mother-of-two elaborated that early in her career, she was intensely self-conscious about her father and grandfather seeing such explicit content.
Hawke praised her manner in declining the scene, noting she wasn't "petulant" about it. However, Paltrow reflected that she may have been "too prudish in the moment" and was "definitely worried about it." She conceded that today, she "wouldn't care" about filming such a scene.
Reflecting on Careers and Convictions
The interview also saw the two stars reflect on their long careers in Hollywood and staying true to themselves. Hawke described them as "two extremely idealistic young people" with a clear vision. He told Paltrow, "You were never ordinary. You've always been you."
Paltrow agreed, stating that despite challenges, they had both "remained true to ourselves and who we are." The pair also shared a light-hearted moment discussing Hawke's fondness for the fast-food chain Taco Bell, which Paltrow humorously labelled a "sickness."
The film, which also starred Robert De Niro and Anne Bancroft, was released in January 1998. It received mixed reviews but earned $55 million at the global box office against a $25 million budget.
Both actors remain active in film. Paltrow recently returned to screens after a seven-year hiatus in the sports drama Marty Supreme, while Hawke starred in the biographical movie Blue Moon, released in October.
