80s Hollywood legend, 75, stepped back from fame because he ‘didn’t want to be looked at’-Rishma Dosani-Entertainment – Metro

Richard Gere revealed why he chose to step back from fame (Picture: NBC)

Richard Gere has reflected on his huge career in Hollywood, sharing that he chose to step back at a peak of his career – because he hated the attention.

The 75-year-old has been a staple of our screens for decades, thanks to roles in Pretty Woman, Runaway Bride, American Gigolo, Days of Heaven and Primal Fear.

He is currently leading a star-studded cast in the Agency, a new Paramount+ series also starring Jeffrey Wright, Michael Fassbender, Jodie Turner-Smith and Harriet Sansom Harris.

Shedding light on his efforts in the spotlight, during an appearance on the Awards Chatter podcast, he recalled some of the roles he picked in the 80s – between 1982’s An Officer and a Gentleman, and Internal Affairs and Pretty Woman – that ‘didn’t quite click’.

However, speaking to Scott Feinberg for the Awards Chatter podcast, Richard explained that he had actually made a decision to step back from the spotlight, and pick other projects as he struggled with the attention he faced.

‘It was a subconscious choice on my part to step back, is what it was,’ he told the host. ‘I just had enough. I don’t really like all this attention. I reacted like a wild animal. “I don’t want to be looked at.”

Richard starred in Pretty Woman with Julia Roberts (Picture: Disney)

Internal Affairs came out that same year

‘I made some choices – not that I’m ashamed of it – but there were choices not to be in the big game. They were to be in a smaller game.

‘The motivation was the same,’ he insisted of his film choices during that time. ‘I’ve never done anything, like “Nah, f**k it, I’ll just take the money and walk through this.’

‘Even things that I don’t think are very good films, the motivation to do them and the work ethic was the same.’

He shared that he initially wasn’t that keen on playing Edward in Pretty Woman (Picture: Disney)

Discussing his charismatic turn in Pretty Woman, opposite Julia Roberts, Richard shared that he wasn’t actually keen on taking part after reading the script.

Vowing that he is ‘so proud’ and ‘thankful’ for the legendary flick, he recalled not understanding the character he was meant to play.

‘The only thing was, initially, I didn’t understand it,’ he continued. ‘There was no character. I read this thing and I said, “It’s not for me”. To me, it’s just a suit that is there in the movie.’

Richard went on to share the screen with Julia again in 1999’s Runaway Bride (Picture: Shutterstock)

He was asked to meet director Garry Marshall but confessed: ‘I’m uncomfortable because I really don’t want to do this. I wouldn’t mind seeing the movie, but I don’t see myself doing this…’

Thankfully, the filmmaker – with the help of Julia – managed to talk him around and Richard ended up taking on one of the most iconic roles of his entire career.

Pretty Woman went on to gross a whopping $463million at the global box office and was Disney’s highest-grossing R-rated movie until this year, when Deadpool & Wolverine surpassed it.

Richard and Julia also went on to share the screen together again in 1999 flick Runaway Bride, which also raked in a huge $309million.

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